MBSS Site Summary for: LOWI-104-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-104-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-104-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORRIS PRONG in the Lower Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2014 and again in the summer on 8/18/2014.

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.
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Catchment area 3,298 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 15.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 37.6 %
Forested Land Use 38.9 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
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.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.87
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		407.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2155 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 259
Pumpkinseed 137
Pirate Perch 102
Bluegill 69
Eastern Mudminnow 25
Tadpole Madtom 23
Chain Pickerel 20
Yellow Bullhead 14
Eastern Mosquitofish 13
Largemouth Bass 13
Creek Chubsucker 5
Least Brook Lamprey 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 16
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Gammarus Amphipod 9
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 6
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 5
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 3
Caecidotea Isopod 3
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 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.