MBSS Site Summary for: YOUG-432-S-2015


Located on BEAR CREEK in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/1/2015 and again in the summer on 8/4/2015.

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.
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Catchment area 5,707 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.6 %
Forested Land Use 65.6 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 29 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 53 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.27
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		166.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0303 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
Blacknose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Gartersnake

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 44
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 10
Epeorus Mayfly 9
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 7
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenacron Mayfly 2
Atherix 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Agnetina Golden Stoneflies 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake 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.