MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-115-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-115-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-115-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on TIDY ISLAND CR UT1 in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/11/2000 and again in the summer on 7/27/2000.

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 Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 618 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 25.6 %
Forested Land Use 67.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 15 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.3 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.3 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.51
Conductivity 80 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		194.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.5 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 164
Redbreast Sunfish 31
Creek Chubsucker 17
Golden Shiner 14
Redfin Pickerel 6
Bluegill 5
Pumpkinseed 5
Yellow Bullhead 5
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
Rcangras
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyctidae Scud 25
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 24
Caecidotea Isopod 20
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 16
Simulium Black Fly 5
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Syrphidae Rat-Tailed Maggot 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Parachironomus 1
Psychoda 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 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.