MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-101-X-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-101-X-2017-MidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-101-X-2017-MidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on North Fork Muddy Creek in the West River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2017 and again in the summer on 9/22/2017.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 362 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 19.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 26.9 %
Forested Land Use 51.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 2/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 3/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 1/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 32 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 55 %
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 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mosquitofish 69
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
STEGOPTERNA Black Fly 31
DIPLOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 30
KIEFFERULUS 16
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 5
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 5
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 4
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 3
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 2
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 2
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 2
PARATANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
ERIOPTERA Cranefly 1
HYDROBAENUS Midge 1
AESHNA Mosaic Darner Dragonflies 1
LIMNOPHYES Non-Biting Midge 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 1
SIMULIUM Black Fly 1
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 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.