MBSS Site Summary for: WI-S-059-106-97


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

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 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 1,245 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 51.5 %
Forested Land Use 48 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 1/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 1/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		2/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality 3/20 (Poor)
Shading 40 %
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:
Water temperature 20.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 5.98
Conductivity 206 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		202.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 25.6 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
Eastern Mudminnow 83
Eastern Mosquitofish 45
Pirate Perch 1
Yellow Bullhead 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
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 20
Caecidotea Isopod 17
Stegopterna Black Fly 10
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 6
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 5
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Endochironomus 1
Somatochlora 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Tropisternus Water Scavenger 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.