MBSS Site Summary for: TRAN-211-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TRAN-211-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TRAN-211-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HIGGINS MILLPOND UT 1 in the Transquaking River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130308.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/24/2004 and again in the summer on 7/24/2004.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,349 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 64 %
Forested Land Use 33 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 86 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.58
Conductivity 860 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		378.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10.5 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 299
Pirate Perch 57
Eastern Mudminnow 54
American Eel 40
Pumpkinseed 33
Redfin Pickerel 23
Brown Bullhead 21
Largemouth Bass 6
Black Crappie 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 15
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 15
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 12
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 10
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 8
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 7
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 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.