MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-102-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-102-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-102-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CHESTER R UT 2 in the Upper Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130510.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/31/2004 and again in the summer on 7/22/2004.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,827 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 %
Agricultural Land Use 93 %
Forested Land Use 4 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
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 24.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.91
Conductivity 159 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		446.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2 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 166
Pumpkinseed 131
Golden Shiner 104
Bluegill 69
Fallfish 55
Largemouth Bass 36
Creek Chubsucker 33
Green Sunfish 23
American Eel 21
Eastern Mudminnow 7
Tadpole Madtom 7
Eastern Mosquitofish 4
Pirate Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 53
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 11
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 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.