MBSS Site Summary for: PTOB-104-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-104-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-104-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Port Tobacco Creek in the Port Tobacco River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140109.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2017 and again in the summer on 6/13/2017.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 566 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 64.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 1.3 %
Forested Land Use 31.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 46 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.12
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		3177.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1206 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 87
American Eel 29
Green Sunfish 12
Creek Chub 11
Rosyside Dace 10
Creek Chubsucker 5
Yellow Bullhead 4
Swallowtail Shiner 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Eastern Mudminnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 44
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 31
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 6
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 5
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 5
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 3
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 2
IRONOQUIA Northern Caddisfly 1
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 1
MACRONYCHUS Riffle Beetle 1
ANCYRONYX Spider Riffle Beetle 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
SIMULIUM Black Fly 1
ISOTOMURUS Elongate-Bodied Springtail 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.