MBSS Site Summary for: CONO-127-R-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CONO-127-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CONO-127-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO CONOCOCHEAGUE CREEK in the Conococheague Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140504.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/12/2023 and again in the summer on 6/13/2023.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 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 15.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 61.9 %
Forested Land Use 20.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 3/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 3/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 1/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		5/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.38 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.17
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		6070 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.114 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 4
Pearl Dace 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
Oriental Bittersweet
Shrub Honeysuckle
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
GAMMARUS Amphipod 64
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 25
LIRCEUS Isopod 12
PRODIAMESA 5
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 2
STICTOCHIRONOMUS Non-Biting Midge 2
PHAENOPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 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.