MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-106-D-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-106-D-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-106-D-2013-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on SALT BLOCK RUN in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/16/2013 and again in the summer on 6/25/2013.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,689 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 10.8 %
Forested Land Use 79 %


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 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 15 %
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:
pH (lab) 7.02
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		248.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1123 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
White Sucker 58
Creek Chub 41
Pumpkinseed 20
Blacknose Dace 16
Largemouth Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 50
Simulium Black Fly 11
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 9
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Oxyethira Microcaddisfly 3
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
TIPULIDAE Cranefly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 2
CORIXIDAE Water Boatman 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
TABANIDAE Horse Fly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 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.