MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-203-R-2000

Site Photos

Located on BEAVERDAM BR 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 7/31/2000.

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 Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,612 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 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 54 %
Forested Land Use 44.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.83
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		406.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13.6 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 132
Tessellated Darter 99
Pirate Perch 22
Pumpkinseed 5
Redfin Pickerel 5
American Eel 3
Bluegill 3
Tadpole Madtom 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Ring-Necked Snake
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
Prosimulium Black Fly 34
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 10
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 7
Simulium Black Fly 6
Helichus Beetle 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Phryganeidae Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Agabus Predatory Aquatic Beetle 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider 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.