MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-208-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CYPRESS BR 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 6/16/2004.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 11,485 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 39 %
Forested Land Use 59 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
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 23.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.6 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.6 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.17
Conductivity 100 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		114.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 12.2 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tadpole Madtom 39
Eastern Mudminnow 38
Tessellated Darter 33
Green Sunfish 21
Pirate Perch 18
Redfin Pickerel 16
American Eel 13
Golden Shiner 11
Yellow Bullhead 10
Pumpkinseed 6
Margined Madtom 5
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Creek Chubsucker 2
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 23
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 12
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 6
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 2
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 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.