MBSS Site Summary for: WYER-119-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WYER-119-R-2003-0916 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WYER-119-R-2003-0917 (Opens in a new window)

Located on WYE MILL POND UT1 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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,043 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 39 %
Forested Land Use 59 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 18 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
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.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.52
Conductivity 80 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		271 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 25.7 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 87
Redfin Pickerel 38
American Eel 2
Pirate Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 18
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 15
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 12
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 10
Synurella Amphipod 10
Caecidotea Isopod 7
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Hydroporus Water Beetle 3
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Somatochlora 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Diptera True 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.