MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-313-R-2015


Located on MURLEY'S BRANCH in the Town Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140512.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/23/2015 and again in the summer on 6/3/2015.

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 Poor - 2.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,082 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 35.3 %
Forested Land Use 60.6 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 34 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.35
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		4618.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3634 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 588
Blacknose Dace 182
Potomac Sculpin 29
Rainbow Trout 14
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 31
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 13
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 11
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Gammarus Amphipod 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Simulium Black Fly 6
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydroptilidae Micro Caddisfly 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia 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.