MBSS Site Summary for: WICO-301-A-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-301-A-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WICO-301-A-2013-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on HILTON RUN in the St. Mary's River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2013 and again in the summer on 6/4/2013.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,892 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 34.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.1 %
Forested Land Use 55 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 59 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 22 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.6
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		110.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.9532 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 147
American Eel 87
Redbreast Sunfish 54
Blacknose Dace 44
Golden Shiner 26
Swallowtail Shiner 25
Least Brook Lamprey 21
Margined Madtom 20
Rosyface Shiner 19
Tadpole Madtom 6
Pirate Perch 4
Eastern Mudminnow 3
Bluegill 1
Spottail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Cricket Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Haploperla Green Stonefly 34
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 13
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 6
Stempellina 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 2
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 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.