MBSS Site Summary for: LOCK-110-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-110-R-2003-0896 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-110-R-2003-0897 (Opens in a new window)

Located on GRAVEL RUN UT1 in the Lower Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130403.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2003 and again in the summer on 7/17/2003.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 346 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 83 %
Forested Land Use 17 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 92 %
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:
Water temperature 20.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.46
Conductivity 157 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		137.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.1 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
Eastern Mudminnow 473
Chain Pickerel 20
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
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
Naididae Aquatic Worm 40
Hydrobaenus Midge 34
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 15
Simulium Black Fly 5
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 5
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 5
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Agabus Predatory Aquatic Beetle 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae 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.