MBSS Site Summary for: TUCK-203-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-203-R-2016_midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-203-R-2016_midpoint looking upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT to Blackiston Branch in the Tuckahoe Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130405.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/2016 and again in the summer on 6/9/2016.

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 - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,074 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 1.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 62.2 %
Forested Land Use 19.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
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:
pH (lab) 6.55
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		333.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 12.955 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 35
Eastern Mosquitofish 25
Pumpkinseed 24
Pirate Perch 21
Redfin Pickerel 16
Fallfish 12
Bluegill 5
Least Brook Lamprey 5
Sea Lamprey 5
American Eel 4
Creek Chubsucker 2
Tadpole Madtom 2
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 55
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 40
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus 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.