MBSS Site Summary for: LOCK-104-R-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-104-R-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-104-R-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Island Creek in the Lower Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130403.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2009 and again in the summer on 6/15/2009.

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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 43 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 34.8 %
Forested Land Use 65.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 6 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.7 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.7 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.12
Conductivity 85 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		12.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 20.9701 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
Eastern Mudminnow 28
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 49
Caecidotea Isopod 43
Synurella Amphipod 7
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 3
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tipulidae Cranefly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Tabanidae Horse Fly 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.