MBSS Site Summary for: CH-S-271-219-95


Located on ZEKIAH SWAMP RUN UT3 in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/1995 and again in the summer on 5/25/1995.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,640 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 23.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 28.8 %
Forested Land Use 41.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 3/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 93 %
Embeddedness 90 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 90%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.21 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.49
Conductivity 122 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		166 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
Tessellated Darter 35
Eastern Mudminnow 19
Least Brook Lamprey 16
Fallfish 8
Redfin Pickerel 5
American Eel 4
Bluegill 4
Sea Lamprey 3
Brown Bullhead 1
Chain Pickerel 1
Golden Shiner 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Margined Madtom 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard 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
Stenelmis Beetle 19
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 12
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 5
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 4
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Microvelia Small Water Strider Beetle 1
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Gyraulus White Ramshorn Freshwater Snail 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.