MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-124-A-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-124-A-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-124-A-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Puzzley Run in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2009 and again in the summer on 7/13/2009.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
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 1,413 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 19.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 21.4 %
Forested Land Use 56.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 27 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 67 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.39
Conductivity 586 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		243.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7408 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
Blacknose Dace 80
Creek Chub 31
White Sucker 6
Bluntnose Minnow 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Haploperla Green Stonefly 28
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 26
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Ceratopsyche 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Taenionema 3
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 2
Atherix 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Diploperla 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 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.