MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-208-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-208-S-2011-2 (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 3/3/2011 and again in the summer on 6/14/2011.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.02
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		77.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 15.2825 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 13
Green Sunfish 12
Eastern Mudminnow 10
Pirate Perch 9
Tessellated Darter 9
Pumpkinseed 7
Redfin Pickerel 4
Yellow Bullhead 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Golden Shiner 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 38
Prosimulium Black Fly 37
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 19
Cnephia Black Fly 9
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 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.