MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-104-X-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-104-X-2017-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-104-X-2017-MidpointLookingUpstream (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 8/1/2017.

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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 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 50.2 %


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 1/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 98 %
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
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 24
SYNURELLA Amphipod 15
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 14
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 8
STEGOPTERNA Black Fly 8
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 7
MUSCULIUM Fingernail Clam 6
DIPLOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 5
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 4
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 3
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 3
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 2
SIPHLONURUS Gray Drake Mayfly 2
TIPULA Crane Fly 2
CHRYSOPS Deerfly 2
NEOPOROUS Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
ISOTOMIDAE Springtail 1
PSEUDOLIMNOPHILA Crane Fly 1
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 1
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 1
DOLOPHILODES Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
PTILOSTOMIS Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
ZAVRELIMYIA 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.