MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-103-X-2014


Located on NORTH FORK MUDDY CREEK in the West River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2014 and again in the summer on 6/26/2014.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 331 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 20.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 28.6 %
Forested Land Use 48.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 15 meters 		3/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		3/20 (Poor)
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.
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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Green Sunfish 68
Bluegill 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Common Five-Lined Skink
Northern Spring Peeper

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Synurella Amphipod 40
Stegopterna Black Fly 19
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 5
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Caecidotea Isopod 3
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Phryganeidae Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae 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.