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 Maine Department of Environmental Protection
 Biological Monitoring Program
 Stream Algae Report

Site Information
Name: West Branch Sheepscot River - Station 550 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Whitefield Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Kennebec Sample ID: SA-550-2008R (729)
Sample Date: 2008-06-23 Taxonomist: Academy Of Natural Sciences
Location: Below Former Howe Road Bridge. Park In Lot For Whitefield Salmon Preserve. Walk To Old Bridge, Take Trail To The Left.
Sample comments: Cobble Substrate
Latitude: 44.24345872
Longitude: -69.57527201

Three figures from left to right: On the far left, an outline of the state of Maine with the site location marked in blue. In the middle, a satellite image view of the area of the site, with waterbodies marked in blue, and the site marked in red, with a scale bar and north arrow. On the right, a downstream image of the sample site.

Model Results and Variable Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 90th and/or 10th percentile of reference site values.

Statutory Class = AA
Final Determination = B
Attains Class = NO
Reason = Model
Model Result = B
Prob. Class A = 0.03
Prob. Class B = 0.97
Prob. Class C = 0.00
Prob. NA = 0.00

Boxplots of stream algae model metrics, including range of values from all samples, from reference sites, and this specific sample. Stream algae model metrics are in a table below.

Additional Variable Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 90th and/or 10th percentile of reference site values.

Boxplots of additional stream algae metrics, including range of values from all samples, from reference sites, and this specific sample. Additional stream algae metrics are in a table below.

Model Variables Table
Variable Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference range lower limit Reference range upper limit Reference range description
Salt-tolerant diatom percent abundance 6.64 0.90 0.00 9.15 0.00 1.08 <90th percentile
Nutrient-tolerant diatom richness 15.00 8.00 3.00 17.00 0.00 8.00 <90th percentile
Intermediate diatom richness 31.00 19.00 11.00 28.80 9.00 25.30 10th to 90th percentile
Intolerant algae percent species 18.75 18.75 3.70 42.27 22.12 72.41 >10th percentile
Motile diatom percent abundance 12.91 8.49 1.55 31.56 0.00 11.59 <90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent abundance 4.01 1.19 0.00 17.43 0.00 1.05 <90th percentile
Additional Variables Table
Variable Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference range lower limit Reference range upper limit Reference range description
Tolerance Index (all algae) 42.04 42.67 37.09 49.07 0.00 42.34 <90th percentile
Nitrogen Index (all algae) 38.41 38.64 26.81 51.56 0.00 35.58 <90th percentile
Phosphorus Index (all algae) 61.66 58.62 38.59 76.56 0.00 53.06 <90th percentile
Intolerant algae percent species 9.00 6.00 1.00 14.00 5.00 23.00 >10th percentile
Intolerant algae richness 6.98 6.25 0.00 16.00 0.00 7.14 <90th percentile
Salt-tolerant diatom percent richness 91.85 89.95 61.14 98.30 45.42 97.96 10th to 90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent richness 16.67 16.67 0.00 41.38 0.00 14.29 <90th percentile
Nutrient- tolerant diatom percent abundance 58.87 42.06 7.59 84.31 0.00 48.33 <90th percentile
Stream Characteristics and Water Chemistry Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 10th to 90th percentile of reference site values

Bankfull width = 8 m
Wetted width = 8 m
Depth = 32 cm
Water velocity = 25 cm/s
Riffle = 40 %
Run = 50 %
Pool = 10 %
Canopy Cover = 30 %
Bedrock = 30 %
Boulder = 40 %
Cobble = 25 %
Gravel = 4 %
Sand = 1 %
Silt = 0 %
Clay = 0 %
Boxplots of stream water chemistry. Values are in a table below.
Water Chemistry Table
Parameter Sample Date Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference 10th percentile Reference 90th percentile Units
Dissolved Oxygen 2008-06-23 8.3 8.60 7.00 10.23 7.80 10.62 Milligrams Per Liter
pH 2008-06-23 7.67 7.12 6.21 7.97 6.00 7.55 Standard Ph Unit
Specific Conductance 2008-06-23 101 88.55 25.00 492.00 15.41 67.31 Microsiemens Per Centimeter
Temperature 2008-06-23 21.5 20.00 14.70 24.70 12.80 23.60 Degrees Celcius (Temperature)
Dissolved Organic Carbon 2008-06-23 4 4.90 2.30 9.30 2.00 9.42 Milligrams Per Liter
Nitrate + Nitrite As Nitrogen 2008-06-23 0.04 0.08 0.02 0.61 0.01 0.09 Milligrams Per Liter
Orthophosphate As Phosphorus 2008-06-23 1 2.00 1.00 11.00 1.00 3.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Total Alkalinity 2008-06-23 33 19.50 4.44 113.20 2.00 21.00 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 2008-06-23 0.4 0.40 0.20 0.60 0.10 0.50 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Phosphorus 2008-06-23 13 18.00 7.00 48.00 4.00 18.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Viewing Bucket

No viewing bucket data available

Barplot of viewing bucket substrate cover types, available in table on the right.

Land Use
Land Cover Data Source: MELCD 2004
Watershed Area (sq km): 130.9
Impervious Cover %: 4
Land Use Table
Cover Type Percent Category
Highly Urban 0.45 Developed
Urban 0.69 Developed
Residential 4.28 Developed
Water 1.65 Natural
Wetland 6.32 Natural
Forest 74.14 Natural
Grass 9.03 Agriculture
Cleared 0.30 Agriculture
Tilled 3.09 Agriculture

Barplots of landcover data from watershed upstream of sample location. Percentages are available in a table on the right

Site Information
Name: West Branch Sheepscot River - Station 550 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Whitefield Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Kennebec Sample ID: SA-550-2008R (729)
Sample Date: 2008-06-23 Taxonomist: Academy Of Natural Sciences
Taxa List (See key at end of report)

 Tolerance values color coding: Blue for sensitive, <32.20. Purple for intermediate, >=32.20 and <60. Red for tolerant, >=60.

Name Group RA RB Oxy Sap Sal Tr Mot GF Tol TN TP
Gongrosira Filamentous Green 0.293 0.235 37.3 37
Achnanthidium minutissimum Pennate Diatom 0.242 0.026 1 2 2 7 N P 41.2
Achnanthidium rivulare Pennate Diatom 0.113 0.011 N P 49.9 39 49
Leptolyngbya Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.047 0.000 38.3 28 75
Oedogonium Filamentous Green 0.034 0.554 37.6 27 47
Diatoma moniliformis Pennate Diatom 0.025 0.003 3 N U 52.8 27 36
Navicula antonii Pennate Diatom 0.023 0.003 M P 65.4 54 89
Fragilaria vaucheriae Pennate Diatom 0.022 0.003 3 3 2 5 N V 44.2 36
Encyonema minutum Pennate Diatom 0.020 0.003 2 V S 50.2 21
Cocconeis placentula Pennate Diatom 0.019 0.012 3 2 2 5 N P NA 30 82
Gomphonema sp. 2 ANS NEW JERSEY KCP Pennate Diatom 0.015 0.003 N S 15.1 24 29
Scenedesmus ecornis Colonial Green 0.013 0.000 39.9 23 69
Mougeotia Filamentous Green 0.010 0.043 26.9 10 12
Cymbella tumida Pennate Diatom 0.009 0.019 1 1 2 4 V S 57.8 48 78
Gomphonema pygmaeum Pennate Diatom 0.009 0.001 N S NA
Achnanthidium deflexum Pennate Diatom 0.007 0.000 1 2 3 N P 43.5 40 52
Nitzschia palea Pennate Diatom 0.007 0.001 4 5 2 6 H P 60.3 67 89
Navicula cryptocephala Pennate Diatom 0.005 0.001 3 3 2 7 M P 56.3 55 80
Fragilaria gracilis Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.000 1 1 2 2 N V 30.6 18 22
Psammothidium subatomoides Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.000 1 1 1 2 V P 42.4 20 35
Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.002 3 2 2 5 N P 58.2 45 81
Amphipleura pellucida Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.002 2 4 2 2 M P 43.8 20 59
Navicula cryptotenella Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.001 2 2 7 M P 44.6 61 82
Eolimna minima Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.001 4 4 2 5 M P 57 64 88
Diatoma tenuis Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.000 3 3 3 5 N U 46.8 52 86
Staurosirella pinnata Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.000 1 2 2 7 N V 44.2 38 56
Ulnaria ulna Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.013 3 4 2 N E 34.2 17 21
Eunotia bilunaris Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.001 2 2 2 7 V E 37.6 17 28
Eunotia incisa Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.001 1 1 1 1 V E 24.8 18 35
Encyonema silesiacum Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.010 3 3 2 7 V S 46.9 43 69
Gomphonema parvulius Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.003 N S NA 17 22
Adlafia minuscula var. muralis Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.000 3 4 2 5 M P NA
Frustulia amphipleuroides Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.013 1 1 1 1 M P 44.5 38 78
Geissleria decussis Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.001 1 2 4 M P 44.5 40 80
Navicula sp. 1 MAINE SJM Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.001 M P NA
Ulnaria acus Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.003 2 3 2 5 N E 31.7 29 48
Cymbella subturgidula Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.003 V S 23.6 26 35
Amphora pediculus Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.000 2 2 2 5 M P 76.2 71 93
Gomphonema acuminatum Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.002 2 2 2 5 N S 26.7 13 15
Navicula radiosa Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.002 2 2 2 4 M P 41.8 34 73
Nitzschia acidoclinata Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.000 1 2 1 3 H P 51.6 40 56
Nitzschia dissipata Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.000 2 2 2 4 H P 60.9 48 75
Nitzschia linearis Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.004 2 2 2 4 H P 54.2 68 87
Nitzschia tubicola Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.000 H P 81.2 70 87
Ctenophora pulchella Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.006 3 5 2 3 N E 49.7
Tabellaria flocculosa (strain IV) Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 1 2 1 3 N U 18.8 9 5
Planothidium frequentissimum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 3 4 2 V P 65.1 69 92
Amphora inariensis Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 2 1 M P NA 38 59
Gomphonema parvulum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 4 4 2 5 N S 42.2 21
Gomphonema sphaerophorum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 N S NA
Gomphonema hutchinsoniana Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 N S 51.6 43 75
Brachysira microcephala Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 2 1 2 2 M P 18 12 18
Pinnularia Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.006 M P NA
Rhoicosphenia abbreviata Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 2 2 2 5 V S 83.4 72 96
Surirella brebissonii var. kuetzingii Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 3 3 2 5 H P NA
Nitzschia acicularis Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 4 3 2 5 H P NA 19 85
Nitzschia fonticola Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 2 2 2 4 H P 82.2 49 80
Nitzschia frustulum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 3 2 3 5 H P 50.4 53 88
Chamaepinnularia soehrensis var. hassiaca Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 1 1 1 1 M P NA

Taxa List Key
Column Name Description
RA Relative Abundance number of cells (density of cells per square centimeter) in a sample / total abundance of all taxa
RB Relative Biovolume Volume of a taxon’s cells in a sample / volume of all algae cells in a sample
Oxy van Dam Oxygen tolerance 1=100% DO saturation, 2=>75% DO saturation, 3=>50% DO saturation, 4=>30% DO saturation, 5=<30% DO saturation
Sap van Dam Saprobic value Saprobic values relate to the amount of organic pollution, biological oxygen demand, and DO concentrations. Values range from 1 (intolerant of organic pollution) to 5 (highly tolerant of organic pollution)
Sal van Dam Salinity value 1=freshwater (<100 mg/L chloride) , 2=fresh-brackish (<500 mg/L), 3=brackish-freshwater (500-1000 mg/L), 4=brackish (1000-5000 mg/L)
Tr van Dam Trophic value 1=oligotraphentic, 2=oligo-mesotraphentic, 3=mesotraphentic, 4=meso-eutraphentic, 5=eutraphentic, 6=hypereutraphentic, 7=indifferent to trophic state
Mot Motility of Diatoms Motility (capability of movement in water or on substrates) based on genus (Wang et al. 2005): N= not motile, M = motile , H = highly motile, V=variable within genus
GF Growth Forms E= erect, P=prostrate, S=stalked, U=unattached, V=variable (based on communication with R. Jan Stevenson)
Tol Tolerance value Tolerance to a combination of watershed disturbance, conductivity, and nutrient enrichment (based on Maine data). Value range from 1=most senstive to 100=most tolerant.
TN TN value Preference for total nitrogen (TN) based on Maine data. Values range from 1=low TN concentrations to 100=high TN concentrations.
TP TP value Preference for total phosphorus (TP) based on Maine data. Values range from 1=low TP concentrations to 100=high TP concentrations.