MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-432-S-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-432-S-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-432-S-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Bear Creek in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/6/2009 and again in the summer on 7/14/2009.

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 Good - 4.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 5,707 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.6 %
Forested Land Use 66.8 %


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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 32 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 63 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 35 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 13.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.23
Conductivity 58 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		151.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7547 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Brown Trout 5
White Sucker 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 23
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 15
Epeorus Mayfly 10
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 8
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Stenacron Mayfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Atherix 1
Nyctiophylax 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 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.