MBSS Site Summary for: UPPC-103-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-103-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-103-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTH FORK GREEN RUN in the Upper Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2001 and again in the summer on 6/12/2001.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 2,269 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 66 %
Forested Land Use 30 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.05
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		209.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.6 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 126
Pirate Perch 29
Pumpkinseed 11
Tadpole Madtom 9
American Eel 7
Eastern Mosquitofish 6
Redfin Pickerel 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Golden Shiner 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 25
Caenis Mayfly 12
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 10
Caecidotea Isopod 9
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 8
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 7
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 6
Hydroporus Water Beetle 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Palaemonetes 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.