MBSS Site Summary for: SENE-210-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-210-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-210-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on DRY SENECA CR 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 8/7/2001.

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 - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,214 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 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 67 %
Forested Land Use 26 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 25.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 9.42
Conductivity 400 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		846.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.6 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 1204
Blacknose Dace 328
Longnose Dace 154
Fantail Darter 15
Green Sunfish 8
Greenside Darter 7
Bluntnose Minnow 6
White Sucker 6
Central Stoneroller 5
Yellow Bullhead 4
Creek Chub 2
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Tessellated Darter 1
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 Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Diamesa Bloodworm 19
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 18
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 7
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Simuliidae Black Fly 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Caenis Mayfly 4
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 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.