MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-203-A-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-203-A-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-203-A-2010-2 (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 4/29/2010 and again in the summer on 6/16/2010.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,326 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 13.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 21.2 %
Forested Land Use 62.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 10 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 70 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.26
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		239.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6321 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 18
Longnose Dace 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Slimy Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 56
Simulium Black Fly 16
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 9
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 3
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 3
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 2
Peltoperlidae Roachlike Stonefly 1
Alloperla Stonefly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Ceratopsyche 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 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.