MBSS Site Summary for: WI-S-057-319-97


Located on ADKINS RACE in the Upper Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/7/1997 and again in the summer on 6/10/1997.

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 Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,581 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 53.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
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 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.55
Conductivity 100 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		261.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 15.8 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 96
Golden Shiner 34
Pirate Perch 28
Redfin Pickerel 17
Tessellated Darter 12
Eastern Mudminnow 11
Bluegill 10
Redbreast Sunfish 10
Creek Chubsucker 7
Margined Madtom 6
Pumpkinseed 5
Yellow Perch 5
Tadpole Madtom 4
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Largemouth Bass 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 27
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 19
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 12
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 9
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 6
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 3
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Palaemonetes 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.