MBSS Site Summary for: SEAS-109-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEAS-109-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEAS-109-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTHEAST CREEK UT in the Southeast Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130508.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2014 and again in the summer on 6/10/2014.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 721 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 13.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 60.3 %
Forested Land Use 25.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 54 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 24 meters
8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.5
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
750.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.2372 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Green Sunfish 118
Tessellated Darter 73
Eastern Mudminnow 46
American Eel 29
Swallowtail Shiner 18
White Sucker 6
Creek Chubsucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 37
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 28
Prosimulium Black Fly 16
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.