MBSS Site Summary for: WCHE-086-S-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WCHE-086-S-2001-161 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WCHE-086-S-2001-162 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WCHE-086-S-2001-163 (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 3/28/2001 and again in the summer on 8/7/2001.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,535 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 23 %
Forested Land Use 69 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
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 22.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		650.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 27
Mummichog 23
Eastern Mudminnow 18
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 60
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 7
Gammarus Amphipod 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 4
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 3
Hyalella Amphipod 3
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 3
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Ostrocerca Stonefly 1
Polypedilum 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.