MBSS Site Summary for: WI-S-057-309-97


Located on ADKINS RACE in the Upper Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/1997 and again in the summer on 6/17/1997.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,525 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 43 %
Forested Land Use 54 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
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 19 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.32
Conductivity 100 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		173.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13.4 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 93
Pirate Perch 31
Redfin Pickerel 21
Eastern Mudminnow 20
Creek Chubsucker 10
Tadpole Madtom 10
Tessellated Darter 10
Bluegill 8
Least Brook Lamprey 7
Redbreast Sunfish 6
Margined Madtom 5
Yellow Bullhead 5
Golden Shiner 2
Yellow Perch 2
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 44
Cnephia Black Fly 24
Prosimulium Black Fly 18
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Ancyronyx Spider 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.