MBSS Site Summary for: UPCR-311-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-311-R-2015_Midpoint-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCR-311-R-2015_Midpoint-looking-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on RED LION BRANCH in the Upper Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130510.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/31/2015 and again in the summer on 7/21/2015.

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 - 3.7 / 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 10,091 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 7.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 68 %
Forested Land Use 24 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 31 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
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) 6.78
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		359.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.242 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 48
Tessellated Darter 35
Pumpkinseed 24
Eastern Mudminnow 16
Fallfish 16
Tadpole Madtom 11
Chain Pickerel 9
Bluegill 6
Margined Madtom 4
Pirate Perch 4
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Redfin Pickerel 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Green Sunfish 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 18
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 12
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 9
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Goniobasis 2
Stilocladius Midge 2
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 2
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Planorbella 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra 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.