MBSS Site Summary for: LOPC-110-R-2002

Site Photos

Located on POORHOUSE 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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,616 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 39 %
Forested Land Use 59 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 85 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 85%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 13.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.3
Conductivity 260 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		262.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 27
American Eel 12
Pirate Perch 7
Golden Shiner 5
Redfin Pickerel 3
Brown Bullhead 2
Creek Chubsucker 2
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

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
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 26
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 25
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 18
Hydroporus Water Beetle 4
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 3
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Apsectrotanypus Non-Biting Midges 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Corduliidae Emerald Dragonfly 1
Amnicola Freshwater Snail 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Endochironomus 1
Notonecta 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Gammarus Amphipod 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.