MBSS Site Summary for: LICK-121-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LICK-121-R-2017-MidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LICK-121-R-2017-MidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Lee Creek in the Little Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130402.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/13/2017 and again in the summer on 8/1/2017.

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 - 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 No data available A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 22 %
Agricultural Land Use 35.6 %
Forested Land Use 39 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 0/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 0/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 0/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 0 meters
0/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters
0/20 (Poor)
Shading 10 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 4.49
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
-32.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10.105 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
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

Procambarus sp.

Exotic Plants:

No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 121
HYDROPORUS Water Beetle 5
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 3
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
CRANGONYX Amphipod 2
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
LIMNOPHYES Non-Biting Midge 1
EPIAESCHNA 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.