MBSS Site Summary for: CH-S-020-322-95


Located on ZEKIAH SWAMP RUN in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/14/1995 and again in the summer on 8/14/1995.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 12,573 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 22.3 %
Forested Land Use 69.5 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 2/20 (Poor)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.73
Conductivity 135 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		193.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fallfish 65
Eastern Mudminnow 63
Tessellated Darter 59
Rosyside Dace 29
Redfin Pickerel 25
Creek Chubsucker 23
American Eel 15
Margined Madtom 15
Sea Lamprey 7
Bluegill 6
Pirate Perch 4
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 3
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 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.