MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-403-H-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-403-H-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-403-H-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Choptank River in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2010 and again in the summer on 7/21/2010.

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 N R
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 83,848 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 1.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 55.9 %
Forested Land Use 40.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.98
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		281.9584 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6112 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Ratsnake
Redbelly Turtle

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 34
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 23
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 8
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 5
Nectopsyche 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Perlesta 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Ectopria Water Penny Beetle 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Microcylloepus 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.