MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-112-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-112-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-112-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on RED LION BR UT 2 UT 3 in the Upper Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130510.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/2004 and again in the summer on 6/24/2004.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,001 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 53 %
Forested Land Use 44 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.37
Conductivity 135 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		275.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 1669
Pirate Perch 87
Redfin Pickerel 65
Creek Chubsucker 56
Tessellated Darter 38
Pumpkinseed 26
American Eel 14
Golden Shiner 3
Brown Bullhead 2
Bluegill 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 29
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 15
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 13
Apsectrotanypus Non-Biting Midges 12
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 12
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 8
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 5
Musculium Fingernail Clam 5
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Hydroporus Water Beetle 3
Amphipoda Scud 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Ischnura 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 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.