MBSS Site Summary for: CHIN-220-R-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CHIN-220-R-2023-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CHIN-220-R-2023-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on TANHOUSE CREEK in the Chincoteague Bay watershed, 8-digit code: 02130106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2023 and again in the summer on 9/5/2023.

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 N R
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area No data available Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 2.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 58.3 %
Forested Land Use 35.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat not sampled
Epifaunal Substrate not sampled
Velocity/Depth Diversity not sampled
Pool Quality not sampled
Riffle Quality not sampled
Shading not sampled
Embeddedness not sampled


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.02
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		80.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.561 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
Not Sampled 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
None observed

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
HYDROBAENUS Midge 58
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 15
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 15
STEGOPTERNA Black Fly 8
AEDES Mosquito 3
CRANGONYX Amphipod 3
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 2
MESOCRICOTOPUS 2
CERATOPOGON/CULICOIDES/STILOBEZZIA 1
CALOPTERYX Damselfly 1
PHILOPOTAMIDAE Fingernet Caddisfly 1
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
DIPLOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
IRONOQUIA Northern Caddisfly 1
OSTROCERCA Stonefly 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.