MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-319-A-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-319-A-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-319-A-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BUFFALO RUN in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2011 and again in the summer on 7/20/2011.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 257 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.7 %
Forested Land Use 85.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 39 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 0 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.45
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		238.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3359 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 18
Creek Chub 18
Smallmouth Bass 12
River Chub 9
Longnose Dace 6
White Sucker 6
Yellow Bullhead 5
Bluntnose Minnow 3
Pumpkinseed 2
Bluegill 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Brown Trout 1
Margined Madtom 1
Rock Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 7
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 7
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Epeorus Mayfly 5
Teloganopsis Mayfly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 4
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
Diploperla 1
Goera 1
Micrasema 1
Taenionema 1
Alloperla Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 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.