MBSS Site Summary for: WEBR-107-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEBR-107-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEBR-107-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT TO SOUTHWEST BRANCH in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/4/2008 and again in the summer on 7/10/2008.

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 - 2.4 / 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 488 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 67.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 8.4 %
Forested Land Use 23.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
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:
Water temperature 24.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.4 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.4 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 7.51
Conductivity 216 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2604.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2766 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
Tessellated Darter 91
Creek Chub 34
Eastern Mosquitofish 34
Blacknose Dace 16
Swallowtail Shiner 16
Green Sunfish 14
White Sucker 14
Rosyside Dace 7
Bluegill 5
Fallfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 40
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 24
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Limnodrilus Worm 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Microvelia Small Water Strider Beetle 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Neoporus 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ormosia Cranefly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 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.