MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-208-S-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2010-2 (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 4/3/2010 and again in the summer on 7/28/2010.

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 Fair - 3.6 / 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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 71 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 4 meters 		4/20 (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:
pH (lab) 6.075
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		108.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 20.105 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 12
Green Sunfish 8
Redfin Pickerel 6
Pirate Perch 5
Golden Shiner 3
American Eel 1
Creek Chubsucker 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 21
Stegopterna Black Fly 17
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 10
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Lumbriculidae Worm 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Simuliidae Black Fly 2
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Caenis Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Neoporus 1
Somatochlora 1
Ormosia Cranefly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius 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.