MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-409-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-409-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-409-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on TOWN CR in the Town Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140512.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/2000 and again in the summer on 9/5/2000.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 81,254 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.7 %
Forested Land Use 81.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 105 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.64
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		838.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 27 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fantail Darter 418
Bluntnose Minnow 339
Central Stoneroller 227
Blue Ridge Sculpin 140
Greenside Darter 137
Longnose Dace 95
Redbreast Sunfish 85
Spotfin Shiner 65
Rainbow Darter 60
Potomac Sculpin 53
Margined Madtom 48
Fallfish 47
Rosyface Shiner 38
River Chub 34
Rock Bass 24
Smallmouth Bass 19
Green Sunfish 18
Cutlip Minnow 15
Yellow Bullhead 14
Northern Hogsucker 9
Longear Sunfish 8
Blacknose Dace 7
Chain Pickerel 2
Common Shiner 1
Creek Chub 1
Golden Redhorse 1
Silverjaw Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 31
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 10
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 6
Simulium Black Fly 6
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Stenacron Mayfly 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Turbellaria Flatworm 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 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.