MBSS Site Summary for: WIRH-215-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-215-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-215-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE NECK BRANCH in the Wicomico River Head watershed, 8-digit code: 02130304.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2014 and again in the summer on 7/14/2014.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,168 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 37.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.3 %
Forested Land Use 31.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.01
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		389.95 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.1012 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 316
Brown Bullhead 139
American Eel 52
Eastern Mudminnow 43
Pirate Perch 20
Least Brook Lamprey 17
Chain Pickerel 11
Tadpole Madtom 11
Eastern Mosquitofish 6
Pumpkinseed 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 40
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 22
Gammarus Amphipod 17
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 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.