MBSS Site Summary for: SENE-119-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-119-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-119-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Little Seneca Creek in the Seneca Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140208.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/2017 and again in the summer on 7/12/2017.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 576 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 58 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.7 %
Forested Land Use 29.2 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.62
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		878.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8558 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
Blacknose Dace 286
Blue Ridge Sculpin 110
Rosyside Dace 85
Central Stoneroller 40
Fantail Darter 35
Longnose Dace 31
Creek Chub 18
Potomac Sculpin 15
White Sucker 9
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 53
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 22
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 16
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 7
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 5
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
TRIAENODES Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
DUBIRAPHIA Riffle Beetle 2
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 1
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
GIRARDIA Freshwater Flatworm 1
GLOSSOSOMA Little Black Caddisfly 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
SUBLETTEA 1
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 1
HELICHUS Beetle 1
SIMULIUM Black 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.