MBSS Site Summary for: LOCK-126-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-126-R-2003-0875 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCK-126-R-2003-0876 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BLINKHORN CREEK in the Lower Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130403.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2003 and again in the summer on 7/22/2003.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,091 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 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 87 %
Forested Land Use 11 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.63
Conductivity 204 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		202.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.8 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Least Brook Lamprey 118
Tessellated Darter 53
American Eel 21
Mummichog 11
Bluegill 6
Eastern Mudminnow 6
Pirate Perch 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Redfin Pickerel 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Green Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 12
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 11
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 8
Neophylax Caddisfly 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 4
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Simuliidae Black Fly 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 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.