MBSS Site Summary for: SENE-306-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-306-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SENE-306-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 8/2/2001.

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 - 4.3 / 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 5,581 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 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 70 %
Forested Land Use 24 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.42
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		369.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1 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 21 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 280
Fantail Darter 146
Potomac Sculpin 96
Bluntnose Minnow 94
Blue Ridge Sculpin 89
White Sucker 73
Rosyside Dace 33
Longnose Dace 31
Silverjaw Minnow 25
Largemouth Bass 12
Redbreast Sunfish 12
Central Stoneroller 10
Bluegill 7
Creek Chub 7
Tessellated Darter 6
Rock Bass 5
Common Shiner 1
Cutlip Minnow 1
Cyprinid Hybrid 1
Fallfish 1
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
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
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 26
Simulium Black Fly 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 8
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 6
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 5
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 5
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Hagenius Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Lymnaeidae Pond Snail 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.