MBSS Site Summary for: SENE-109-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-109-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-109-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on GUNNERS BRANCH UT1 in the Seneca Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140208.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2001 and again in the summer on 7/10/2001.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 222 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 58 %
Agricultural Land Use 29 %
Forested Land Use 12 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 46 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.44
Conductivity 250 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		753.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 224
Creek Chub 64
Blue Ridge Sculpin 38
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 18
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 15
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 11
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Culicoides 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 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.