MBSS Site Summary for: SO-S-004-113-97


Located on MARUMSCO CR in the Pocomoke Sound watershed, 8-digit code: 02130201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/1997 and again in the summer on 6/9/1997.

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 - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,767 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 46 %
Forested Land Use 51.4 %


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 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 3/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
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 13.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 5.95
Conductivity 160 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		158.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 15.8 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 19
Redfin Pickerel 13
Pirate Perch 11
Golden Shiner 3
Bluegill 2
American Eel 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 18
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 15
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 11
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Hydrobaenus Midge 7
Hydroporus Water Beetle 6
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 5
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Corixidae Water Boatman 4
Gyrinus Whirlygig Beetle 4
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Ostrocerca Stonefly 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Eukiefferiella 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.