MBSS Site Summary for: LOPC-101-R-2002

Site Photos

Located on WAGRAM SWAMP BR in the Lower Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2002 and again in the summer on 6/3/2002.

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 - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 807 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 68 %
Forested Land Use 29 %


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 = 60 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
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 21.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 4.01
Conductivity 360 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-107.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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
No Fish Observed 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 37
Hydroporus Water Beetle 14
Synurella Amphipod 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Lumbriculidae Worm 5
Limnodrilus Worm 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 3
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydrophilidae Water Scavenger Beetle 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Tabanidae Horse Fly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Sphaeromias 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 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.