MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-419-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-419-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-419-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-419-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-419-R-2002-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-419-R-2002-5 (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 4/10/2002 and again in the summer on 7/15/2002.

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 47,166 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 82 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 43 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.67
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		504.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2 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
Redbreast Sunfish 128
Spotfin Shiner 110
Fantail Darter 95
Smallmouth Bass 93
Rosyface Shiner 63
Greenside Darter 52
Longnose Dace 45
Bluntnose Minnow 41
River Chub 30
Common Shiner 26
Rainbow Darter 23
Fallfish 21
Central Stoneroller 17
Rock Bass 15
Creek Chub 7
Margined Madtom 6
Longear Sunfish 4
Northern Hogsucker 4
Potomac Sculpin 3
Green Sunfish 2
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Yellow Bullhead 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 11
Psephenus Water Penny 10
Serratella Mayfly 10
Stenelmis Beetle 9
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 8
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 6
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Caenis Mayfly 3
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia 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.