MBSS Site Summary for: SENE-211-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-211-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-211-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Wildcat Branch in the Seneca Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140208.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2017 and again in the summer on 6/21/2017.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,689 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 35.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 37.1 %
Forested Land Use 23.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 66 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.32
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		371.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6196 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 262
Rosyside Dace 119
Blue Ridge Sculpin 65
Potomac Sculpin 54
White Sucker 39
Creek Chub 23
Fantail Darter 15
Green Sunfish 9
Longnose Dace 9
Bluegill 5
Central Stoneroller 3
Fallfish 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Cutlip Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Daylily(Common)
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 19
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 18
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 12
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 10
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 9
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 8
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 3
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 3
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 3
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 2
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 2
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
TRISSOPELOPIA Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
DIAMESA Bloodworm 1
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 1
TIPULA Crane Fly 1
STROPHOPTERYX Early Brown Stonefly 1
BAETIDAE Small Minnow Mayfly 1
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 1
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 1
ZAVRELIMYIA Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 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.