MBSS Site Summary for: WILL-219-R-2004


Located on BRADDOCK RUN in the Wills Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02141003.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2004 and again in the summer on 7/7/2004.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,856 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 16 %
Agricultural Land Use 10 %
Forested Land Use 73 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 34 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		20/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 50 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 12.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.81
Conductivity 1259 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1413 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.4 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:
The following 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Dusky Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 11
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 8
Sweltsa Stonefly 5
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Ormosia Cranefly 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Phagocata 1
Soyedina 1
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 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.