MBSS Site Summary for: UPPC-216-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-216-R-2015_50-m-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-216-R-2015_50-m-looking-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on LIBERTYTOWN BRANCH in the Upper Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/9/2015 and again in the summer on 7/16/2015.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 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 3,670 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 11 %
Agricultural Land Use 47.3 %
Forested Land Use 39.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.87
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		492.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 16.2913 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redfin Pickerel 39
Eastern Mudminnow 5
Green Sunfish 4
Gizzard Shad 1
Pirate Perch 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern Box Turtle
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Northern Black Racer
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 32
Crangonyx Amphipod 15
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 12
Lumbriculidae Worm 11
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 10
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 8
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Isotomidae Springtail 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Branchiobdellida Aquatic Worm 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 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.