MBSS Site Summary for: QA-N-098-308-97


Located on MASON BR in the Tuckahoe Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130405.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/1997 and again in the summer on 8/19/1997.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 23,533 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 57.8 %
Forested Land Use 41.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 14 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.53
Conductivity 168 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		243.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.8 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 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 354
Eastern Mudminnow 210
Creek Chubsucker 202
Tadpole Madtom 93
Pirate Perch 82
Fallfish 70
Redbreast Sunfish 68
Pumpkinseed 67
Redfin Pickerel 56
American Eel 30
Least Brook Lamprey 25
Bluegill 24
Largemouth Bass 24
Rosyside Dace 17
Golden Shiner 12
Chain Pickerel 7
Swallowtail Shiner 7
Brown Bullhead 6
Margined Madtom 2
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 32
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 13
Simulium Black Fly 8
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 4
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 4
Amnicola Freshwater Snail 3
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 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.