MBSS Site Summary for: WICO-109-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-109-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-109-A-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HAYDEN RUN in the Wicomico River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/2012 and again in the summer on 6/14/2012.

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 Good - 4.4 / 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 691 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 22.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 35.2 %
Forested Land Use 40.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 24 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 60 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 60%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.22
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		433.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.213 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 44
Least Brook Lamprey 36
Fallfish 9
Eastern Mudminnow 7
Tessellated Darter 5
American Eel 4
Creek Chubsucker 4
White Sucker 4
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 17
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 12
Caecidotea Isopod 8
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Tipula Crane Fly 4
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 4
Synurella Amphipod 4
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Stilocladius Midge 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Agarodes 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Trissopelopia 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.