Muddy Bridge Branch (MB-01 and MB-02)

a) Fish data collected in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
 

a) Fish data collected in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Site MB-01: In 2023, MB-01 received a BIBI score of 2.43 (Poor).  BIBI scores at the site have correlated to “Poor” in five out of seven years sampled, including the past three consecutive years.  True flies have been the dominant organisms in the samples for five of the seven monitoring years, including 2023.

MB-01 Summary of Insects Collected by Sample Year:

Site MB-02:  A BIBI score of 1.86 (Poor) was recorded at MB-02 in 2023.  BIBI scores at the site have correlated to “Poor” or “Very Poor” ratings every year of sampling.  True flies and worms have been the dominant organisms in all sampling years.  2023 marks the second consecutive year that dobsonflies have been present in the sample.

MB-02 Summary of Insects Collected by Sample Year:

Site MB-01: The site was fished in 2018, 2020, and 2022, receiving a FIBI score of 4.0 (“Good“) in 2022 after receiving “Fair” ratings in the previous sampling years.  Ten different species were observed in 2022, with tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) being the most abundant.  Twelve different fish species in total have been found at this site since 2018.  Also, the number of individual fish has increased nearly threefold from between 2018 and 2022.

MB-01 Summary of Fish Collected by Sample Year:

Site MB-02: The site was also fished in 2018, 2020, and 2022, receiving a FIBI score of 1.67 (“Very Poor“ rating) in 2022.  White sucker (Catostomus commersonii) has been the dominant species each year and in 2022 comprised over 75 percent of the sample. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), eastern mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), and tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) have also been found at the site.

MB-02 Summary of Fish Collected by Sample Year:

Site MB-01: In 2023, the site received an RBP score of 113 (Partially Supporting).  RBP ratings at the site have fluctuated between “Supporting” and “Partially Supporting,” with cumulative and three-year averages of 119 (Partially Supporting) and 110 (Partially Supporting), respectively.

Site MB-02: In 2023, the site received an RBP score of 86 (Non-Supporting).  RBP ratings at the site have been in the “Non-Supporting” or “Partially Supporting” categories since 2018.  Cumulative and three-year averages at the site are 99 (Non-Supporting) and 94 (Non-Supporting), respectively.

Site MB-01: Geomorphological assessments have been performed at the site annually since 2017.  Since observations began in 2017 the left bank has eroded by approximately one foot while there has been some accretion of sediment on the right bank.  The channel bottom has incised slightly (by about 0.5 ft) but appears to be relatively stable.

MB-01 Cross-Section Comparison:

Site MB-02: Geomorphological assessments have been performed at the site annually since 2017.  Slight erosion of the banks and downcutting of the channel has occurred here over time, but channel shape and character have not changed significantly.

MB-02 Cross-Section Comparison:

^{SD = Standard Deviation}