MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-201-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-201-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-201-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Sawpit Run in the Town Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140512.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/2016 and again in the summer on 6/1/2016.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 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 2,813 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 2.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.5 %
Forested Land Use 84.9 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 29 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 15 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.38
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		394.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2188 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chubsucker 7
Blacknose Dace 6
Creek Chub 4
Central Stoneroller 2
Green Sunfish 2
Longnose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 56
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Erioptera Cranefly 4
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 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.