MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-115-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-115-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-115-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on RED LION BR UT 1 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 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 - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,369 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 70 %
Forested Land Use 28 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
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:
Water temperature 19.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.73
Conductivity 152 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		147.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.3 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
Pumpkinseed 60
Eastern Mudminnow 29
Tessellated Darter 20
Pirate Perch 12
Creek Chubsucker 9
Fallfish 9
Least Brook Lamprey 8
Redfin Pickerel 8
Green Sunfish 7
Bluegill 5
Golden Shiner 2
Largemouth Bass 2
American Eel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 59
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 14
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Planariidae Flatworm 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 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.