MBSS Site Summary for: CN-N-004-311-97


Located on TIDY ISLAND CR in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/9/1997 and again in the summer on 8/26/1997.

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 Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 21,137 acres 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 2.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 49.8 %
Forested Land Use 46.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 98 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 98%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.68
Conductivity 210 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		355.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.3 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 130
Redbreast Sunfish 79
Tessellated Darter 69
Eastern Mudminnow 44
Pirate Perch 22
Black Crappie 16
American Eel 14
Swallowtail Shiner 10
Largemouth Bass 9
Creek Chubsucker 7
Margined Madtom 7
Tadpole Madtom 7
Yellow Bullhead 7
Least Brook Lamprey 4
Pumpkinseed 4
Golden Shiner 3
Redfin Pickerel 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Ratsnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 46
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 38
Crangonyx Amphipod 7
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing 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.