MBSS Site Summary for: TUCK-304-H-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-304-H-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-304-H-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Mason Branch in the Tuckahoe Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130405.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/23/2010 and again in the summer on 7/20/2010.

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 N R
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 29,887 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 0.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 63.1 %
Forested Land Use 34.9 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 73 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.575
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		280.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.2657 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Red-Bellied Turtle

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 20
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 16
Caecidotea Isopod 8
Simulium Black Fly 6
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 6
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 4
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Musculium Fingernail Clam 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 3
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 2
Gomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Macromia 1
Nectopsyche 1
Somatochlora 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Paracladopelma Non-Biting Midge 1
Paramerina 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.