MBSS Site Summary for: TUCK-214-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-214-R-2003-0925 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-214-R-2003-0927 (Opens in a new window)

Located on TUCKAHOE CR UT2 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 7/15/2003.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,597 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 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 78 %
Forested Land Use 17 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters
16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters
16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 19.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.01
Conductivity 237 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
503.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.9 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fallfish 44
Satinfin Shiner 30
Eastern Mudminnow 20
Tessellated Darter 19
American Eel 11
Pumpkinseed 6
Bluegill 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Pirate Perch 1
Redfin Pickerel 1
Spottail Shiner 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Eastern American Toad
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 23
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 7
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 6
Calopteryx Damselfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 3
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 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.