MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-132-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-132-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-132-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 - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 733 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 0.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 50.8 %
Forested Land Use 48.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 5.91
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		116.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 30.7 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 50
Eastern Mudminnow 27
Pirate Perch 20
Tessellated Darter 18
Pumpkinseed 13
American Eel 10
Brown Bullhead 9
Creek Chubsucker 6
Largemouth Bass 4
Least Brook Lamprey 4
Chain Pickerel 1
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
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:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 25
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 24
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 12
Amphipoda Scud 10
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Anchytarsus Beetle 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Caenis Mayfly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 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.