MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-399-E-2004


Located on BEAR CR in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/29/2004 and again in the summer on 10/7/2004.

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 - 4.7 / 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 19,036 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 23 %
Forested Land Use 70 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters
17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters
16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 9.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 10.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 114 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
182.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 50
Blacknose Dace 36
Brown Trout 7
Rainbow Trout 5
Northern Hogsucker 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 28
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 25
Epeorus Mayfly 13
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 12
Lumbriculidae Worm 6
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Agnetina Golden Stoneflies 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Diploperla 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 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.