MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-412-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-412-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-412-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 9/6/2000.

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 - 4.3 / 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 82,904 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 81.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 10 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 10 %
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) 7.86
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		833.6 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 22 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 310
Rainbow Darter 107
Rosyface Shiner 91
Greenside Darter 87
Central Stoneroller 57
Longnose Dace 57
Fantail Darter 35
River Chub 34
Spotfin Shiner 34
Rock Bass 27
Bluntnose Minnow 26
Cutlip Minnow 26
Common Shiner 22
Redbreast Sunfish 21
Potomac Sculpin 17
Smallmouth Bass 13
Longear Sunfish 6
Fallfish 4
Margined Madtom 3
Yellow Bullhead 2
Green Sunfish 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 20
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 18
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 17
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 16
Simulium Black Fly 9
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 7
Eurylophella Mayfly 4
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Serratella Mayfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia 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.