MBSS Site Summary for: SASS-205-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SASS-205-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SASS-205-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HERRING BR in the Sassafras River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130610.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2001 and again in the summer on 7/9/2001.

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 - 4.3 / 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 1,869 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 %
Agricultural Land Use 65 %
Forested Land Use 34 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 38 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 25 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.53
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		197.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 63
Tessellated Darter 61
Least Brook Lamprey 57
Bluegill 39
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Pumpkinseed 6
Golden Shiner 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 30
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 19
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Stegopterna Black Fly 5
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Caenis Mayfly 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Hydroporus Water Beetle 2
Cura Flatworm 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Neureclipsis 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Alboglossiphonia 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 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.