MBSS Site Summary for: LOWI-211-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-211-R-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOWI-211-R-2015_Midpoint-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on BEAVERDAM CREEK in the Lower Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/28/2015 and again in the summer on 7/14/2015.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,551 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 28.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 31.9 %
Forested Land Use 34.5 %


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 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 20 %
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:
pH (lab) 6.67
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		399.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.991 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 50
Bluegill 47
Pumpkinseed 20
Tessellated Darter 11
Eastern Mudminnow 9
Pirate Perch 7
Least Brook Lamprey 6
Redear Sunfish 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Tadpole Madtom 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 73
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 11
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 6
Ceraclea Scaly-Winged Sedge Caddisfly 5
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 4
Naididae Aquatic Worm 4
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Anopheles 1
Palaemonetes 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Odonata Dragonfly, Damselfly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Scirtidae Marsh Beetle 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Hydrobiidae Pebble Snail 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 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.