MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-102-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-102-X-2015_Midpoint-at-P-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-102-X-2015_Midpoint-at-P-upstream (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 3/12/2015 and again in the summer on 6/1/2015.

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 Poor - 1.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 347 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 20.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 28.1 %
Forested Land Use 49.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 9 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 66 meters 		5/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
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:
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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Green Sunfish 2
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Cricket Frog
Northern Green Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 27
Tipula Crane Fly 10
Synurella Amphipod 10
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 10
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 10
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 8
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Ostrocerca Stonefly 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Chrysops Deerfly 3
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Stygobromus Amphipod 2
Tipulidae Cranefly 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 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.