MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-204-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-204-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-204-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BROADWAY BR 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 7/25/2000.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,359 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 1.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 53.5 %
Forested Land Use 44.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.61
Conductivity 150 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		224.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redbreast Sunfish 45
Bluegill 25
Tessellated Darter 24
Pirate Perch 21
Black Crappie 14
Creek Chubsucker 12
Eastern Mudminnow 10
Redfin Pickerel 9
Largemouth Bass 8
Least Brook Lamprey 6
American Eel 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Green Sunfish 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 29
Gammarus Amphipod 28
Simulium Black Fly 12
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 4
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Perlidae Common Stonefly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 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.