MBSS Site Summary for: TOWN-420-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-420-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-420-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-420-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TOWN-420-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 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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 46,656 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 17 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.91
Conductivity 190 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		492.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.1 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 31 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 467
Common Shiner 276
Spotfin Shiner 263
Redbreast Sunfish 188
Central Stoneroller 161
Fantail Darter 112
Spottail Shiner 65
Smallmouth Bass 59
Fallfish 49
Greenside Darter 38
Rosyface Shiner 35
Longear Sunfish 31
Largemouth Bass 28
Bluegill 21
Tessellated Darter 20
Creek Chubsucker 18
Yellow Bullhead 16
Rainbow Darter 15
Longnose Dace 13
River Chub 13
Chain Pickerel 12
Margined Madtom 12
Rock Bass 8
Pumpkinseed 6
Northern Hogsucker 4
Potomac Sculpin 4
Creek Chub 3
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Cutlip Minnow 1
Golden Redhorse 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
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
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 6
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 6
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 5
Caenis Mayfly 4
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 4
Enallagma Narrow-Winged Damselfly 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Lanthus Clubtail Dragonfly 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Corydalus Dobsonfly 3
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 2
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropodidae Trupetnet And Tubemaking Caddisfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 1
Glossosomatidae Saddlecase Maker Caddisfly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Dasyhelea 1
Micrasema 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Pseudochironomus Non-Biting Midge 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group 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.