MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-432-S-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-432-S-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site YOUG-432-S-2010-2 (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 4/28/2010 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 - 4.3 / 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 37 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.41
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		208.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5355 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
White Sucker 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 31
Epeorus Mayfly 14
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 11
Simulium Black Fly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 6
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Cultus 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet 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.