MBSS Site Summary for: STMA-208-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site STMA-208-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site STMA-208-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on John's Creek in the St. Mary's River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2017 and again in the summer on 6/14/2017.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,632 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 13.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 28.3 %
Forested Land Use 53.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 18 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.68
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		172.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.154 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Least Brook Lamprey 61
Blacknose Dace 52
Tessellated Darter 42
American Eel 23
Creek Chubsucker 14
Redbreast Sunfish 14
Eastern Mudminnow 13
Bluegill 10
Tadpole Madtom 6
Margined Madtom 4
Pirate Perch 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Spottail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 30
HAPLOPERLA Green Stonefly 14
DUBIRAPHIA Riffle Beetle 10
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 9
TRIAENODES Long-Horned Caddisfly 9
SYNURELLA Amphipod 8
MICROCYLLOEPUS Riffle Beetle 5
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 4
ACERPENNA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 3
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 3
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 3
ABLABESMYIA Non-Biting Midge 3
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
MACRONYCHUS Riffle Beetle 2
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 2
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 2
ANCYRONYX Spider Riffle Beetle 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
PSEPHENUS Water Penny 1
STEMPELLINELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
TRISSOPELOPIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
ARGIA Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
HAGENIUS Clubtail Dragonfly 1
GAMMARUS Amphipod 1
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 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.