MBSS Site Summary for: WCHE-086-S-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WCHE-086-S-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WCHE-086-S-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PLUM POINT CR in the West Chesapeake Bay watershed, 8-digit code: 02131005.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/25/2000 and again in the summer on 9/13/2000.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 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 2,524 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 20.1 %
Forested Land Use 74.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 25 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
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 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		563.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.2 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
Mummichog 26
Eastern Mudminnow 21
American Eel 9
Bluegill 4
Banded Killifish 2
Eastern Mosquitofish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 37
Synurella Amphipod 17
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 14
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 11
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 7
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 6
Culicoides 6
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 5
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Smittia European Non-Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Planorbidae Ramshorn Snail 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 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.