MBSS Site Summary for: LOWI-104-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-104-R-2000-11_10 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-104-R-2000-11_11 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORRIS POND in the Lower Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/28/2000 and again in the summer on 9/11/2000.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 3,298 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 3.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 49.2 %
Forested Land Use 46.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		14/20 (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 21.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.56
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		288.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 12.6 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 137
Eastern Mudminnow 72
American Eel 67
Pirate Perch 63
Brown Bullhead 29
Pumpkinseed 21
Tadpole Madtom 19
Least Brook Lamprey 18
Yellow Bullhead 15
Chain Pickerel 14
Eastern Mosquitofish 8
Creek Chubsucker 6
Largemouth Bass 1
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 14
Amphipoda Scud 12
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 12
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 9
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 8
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Musculium Fingernail Clam 5
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 5
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Glossiphoniidae Leech 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Libellulidae Skimmer Dragonfly 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Parachironomus 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Smittia European Non-Biting Midge 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 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.