MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-119-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-119-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-119-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CHOPTANK RIVER UT1 in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/6/2000 and again in the summer on 7/24/2000.

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 Good - 4.3 / 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 605 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 11.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 44.9 %
Forested Land Use 43.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 21 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
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 18.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.32
Conductivity 120 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		170 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 8.9 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
Least Brook Lamprey 85
Eastern Mudminnow 55
Pirate Perch 43
Tessellated Darter 28
American Eel 16
Redfin Pickerel 6
Chain Pickerel 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphipoda Scud 35
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 13
Caecidotea Isopod 11
Naididae Aquatic Worm 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Synurella Amphipod 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Cnephia Black Fly 1
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 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.