MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-208-S-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Cypress Branch in the Upper Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130510.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2009 and again in the summer on 8/3/2009.

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 Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,630 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 33.8 %
Forested Land Use 65 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 74 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 4 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
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.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.3 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.3 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.76
Conductivity 117 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		40.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.6091 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
Redfin Pickerel 26
Eastern Mudminnow 18
Golden Shiner 8
Bluegill 7
Creek Chubsucker 5
Pirate Perch 5
Pumpkinseed 4
Green Sunfish 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Tadpole Madtom 3
American Eel 2
Margined Madtom 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Marbled Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 42
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 26
Stegopterna Black Fly 12
Hydrobaenus Midge 9
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 6
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cnephia Black Fly 3
Synurella Amphipod 1
Ormosia Cranefly 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.