MBSS Site Summary for: PTOB-002-S-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-002-S-2013-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-002-S-2013-MidpointPupstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on HOGHOLE RUN in the Port Tobacco River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140109.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2013 and again in the summer on 6/6/2013.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,329 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 25.5 %
Forested Land Use 70 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 61 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 35 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.38
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		68.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.358 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health. 		Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:
The following 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 122
Creek Chub 49
Blacknose Dace 47
Rosyside Dace 28
Creek Chubsucker 22
Least Brook Lamprey 2
American Eel 1
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 68
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 21
Simulium Black Fly 8
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 6
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 2
DOLICHOPODIDAE Long-Legged Fly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.