MBSS Site Summary for: LOPC-116-R-2002

Site Photos

Located on REHOBETH BR in the Lower Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2002 and again in the summer on 6/5/2002.

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 - 2.0 / 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 3,675 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 22 %
Forested Land Use 76 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 5/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 72 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 3 meters 		1/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
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 19.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.5 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.5 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.16
Conductivity 250 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		271.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 52
Eastern Mudminnow 38
Redfin Pickerel 17
Pumpkinseed 14
Pirate Perch 1
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
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 32
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 25
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 8
Hydroporus Water Beetle 5
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydrobaenus Midge 4
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Kiefferulus 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Corduliidae Emerald Dragonfly 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.