MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-417-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-417-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-417-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-417-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-417-R-2002-4 (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 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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 104,835 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 14 %
Forested Land Use 81 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.51
Conductivity 240 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		689.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3 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 21 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Rock Bass 156
Rainbow Darter 130
Central Stoneroller 92
Smallmouth Bass 70
Greenside Darter 62
Common Shiner 58
Spotfin Shiner 52
Redbreast Sunfish 46
Fantail Darter 41
Longnose Dace 41
Rosyface Shiner 34
River Chub 30
Potomac Sculpin 13
Bluntnose Minnow 9
Fallfish 7
Creek Chub 2
Cutlip Minnow 2
American Eel 1
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Green Sunfish 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 11
Eurylophella Mayfly 9
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 5
Psephenus Water Penny 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 3
Caenis Mayfly 3
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 3
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Leucrocuta Mayfly 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Aeshnidae Darner Dragonfly 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Neureclipsis 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Ectopria Water Penny 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.