MBSS Site Summary for: TUCK-107-R-2003

Site Photos

Located on TUCKAHOE CR UT4 in the Tuckahoe Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130405.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2003 and again in the summer on 7/14/2003.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 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 1,093 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 85 %
Forested Land Use 12 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 50 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 75 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 75%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.77
Conductivity 159 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		278.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 139
Tessellated Darter 23
Bluegill 11
Pirate Perch 8
Pumpkinseed 8
American Eel 3
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Redfin Pickerel 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 34
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 20
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Musculium Fingernail Clam 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 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.