MBSS Site Summary for: WEST-114-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-114-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WEST-114-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Bluejay Branch in the West River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/28/2016 and again in the summer on 6/29/2016.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 359 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 13 %
Agricultural Land Use 31.7 %
Forested Land Use 49.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 1/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 4 meters 		2/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 71 meters 		3/20 (Poor)
Shading 95 %
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:
pH (lab) 6.46
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		165.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2655 mg/L

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:
Eastern Cricket Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Ground Ivy
Japanese Honeysuckle
Kudzu
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 22
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Hydrobaenus Midge 10
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 10
Stegopterna Black Fly 9
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 5
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 2
Ormosia Cranefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 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.