MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-205-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-205-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-205-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-205-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MURLEY BR in the Town Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140512.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/27/2002 and again in the summer on 7/16/2002.

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 Fair - 3.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 2,041 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 35 %
Forested Land Use 62 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.84
Conductivity 450 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		5334 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.1 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1093
Blacknose Dace 13
Rainbow Trout 13
Cutthroat Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 39
Gammarus Amphipod 25
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 22
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 11
Naididae Aquatic Worm 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 4
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Gyraulus White Ramshorn Freshwater Snail 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 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.