MBSS Site Summary for: CN-N-050-102-96


Located on COOLSPRING BR in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/1996 and again in the summer on 9/18/1996.

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 - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,053 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 2.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 40.8 %
Forested Land Use 56.3 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.31
Conductivity 97 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		167.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 185
Tessellated Darter 37
Bluegill 13
Pirate Perch 8
Tadpole Madtom 8
Creek Chubsucker 6
Least Brook Lamprey 6
Redfin Pickerel 6
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Golden Shiner 2
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green 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
Prosimulium Black Fly 69
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 15
Stegopterna Black Fly 14
Simulium Black Fly 7
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 4
Thienemannimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.