MBSS Site Summary for: LOPC-104-B-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOPC-104-B-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOPC-104-B-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE MILL CREEK in the Lower Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2008 and again in the summer on 7/8/2008.

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 - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,079 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 34.5 %
Forested Land Use 61.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 1/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 85 %
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 26.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 1.7 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (1.7 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.39
Conductivity 256 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		50.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 12.7006 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redfin Pickerel 37
Eastern Mudminnow 16
Pirate Perch 3
Bluegill 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Common Five-Lined Skink
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 36
Hydrobaenus Midge 15
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Stegopterna Black Fly 6
Neoporus 6
Crangonyctidae Scud 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 4
Synurella Amphipod 2
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Tropisternus Water Scavenger Beetle 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 1
Cnephia Black 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.