MBSS Site Summary for: SIDE-401-H-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SIDE-401-H-2012-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SIDE-401-H-2012-MidpointPupstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on SIDELING HILL CREEK in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140510.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2012 and again in the summer on 8/6/2012.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 65,818 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.4 %
Forested Land Use 76 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 72 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.55
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		295.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6943 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 22 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Central Stoneroller 157
Greenside Darter 126
Longnose Dace 101
Smallmouth Bass 78
Rainbow Darter 68
Margined Madtom 44
Rosyface Shiner 44
Redbreast Sunfish 32
Rock Bass 27
Common Shiner 25
River Chub 25
Fallfish 22
Spotfin Shiner 20
Fantail Darter 19
Green Sunfish 18
Bluntnose Minnow 14
Yellow Bullhead 5
Potomac Sculpin 3
Creek Chub 2
Longear Sunfish 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 54
Heterocloeon 9
Stenelmis Beetle 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 5
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 4
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 3
Micrasema 2
Taenionema 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
GOMPHIDAE Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 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.