MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-104-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-104-X-2016_midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-104-X-2016_midpoint looking upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Muddy Creek in the West River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/1/2016 and again in the summer on 6/9/2016.

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 N R
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 294 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 19.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 28.3 %
Forested Land Use 50.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 3/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters
3/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters
2/20 (Poor)
Shading 97 %
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:

Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 47
Ostrocerca Stonefly 16
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 11
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Synurella Amphipod 9
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Isotomidae Springtail 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Caecidotea Isopod 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.