MBSS Site Summary for: SM-S-237-103-95


Located on CHAPTICO CR in the Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/16/1995 and again in the summer on 6/8/1995.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 772 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 19.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 39.2 %
Forested Land Use 40.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 65 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 65%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.94
Conductivity 126 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		499.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 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
Blacknose Dace 26
American Eel 18
Fallfish 14
Tessellated Darter 13
Least Brook Lamprey 10
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Bluegill 2
Pirate Perch 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 24
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 19
Hexatoma Crane Fly 13
Stenelmis Beetle 10
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 6
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Culicoides 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Calopteryx 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.