MBSS Site Summary for: WICO-103-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-103-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-103-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BURROUGHS RUN in the Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2004 and again in the summer on 6/29/2004.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 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 717 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 42 %
Forested Land Use 57 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters
7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 91 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 20.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.89
Conductivity 108 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
206.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 22
Blacknose Dace 12
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 18
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 8
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 8
Synurella Amphipod 8
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 7
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 7
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Xylotopus Midge 2
Leptoceridae Longhorned Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Limnodrilus Worm 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 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.