MBSS Site Summary for: WYER-113-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WYER-113-R-2003-0910 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WYER-113-R-2003-0911 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SKIPTON CR in the Wye River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130503.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/24/2003 and again in the summer on 6/25/2003.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 691 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 78 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 94 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.03
Conductivity 206 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		471.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 8 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 78
Blacknose Dace 67
American Eel 18
Eastern Mudminnow 11
Least Brook Lamprey 6
Bluegill 3
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 42
Prosimulium Black Fly 18
Hydrobaenus Midge 14
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.