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

Site Photos

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

Located on GREAT SENECA CR in the Seneca Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140208.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2001 and again in the summer on 8/8/2001.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 31,254 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 30 %
Agricultural Land Use 44 %
Forested Land Use 25 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 6 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 25.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.74
Conductivity 230 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		726.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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
Potomac Sculpin 64
Greenside Darter 62
Green Sunfish 28
Tessellated Darter 23
Longnose Dace 15
White Sucker 13
Blue Ridge Sculpin 9
Fantail Darter 9
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Smallmouth Bass 2
American Eel 1
Blacknose Dace 1
Creek Chub 1
Fallfish 1
Pumpkinseed 1
River Chub 1
Silverjaw Minnow 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 30
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 17
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 16
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 5
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 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.