MBSS Site Summary for: WIRH-220-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2012-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2012-MidpointPupstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on LEONARD POND RUN in the Wicomico River Head watershed, 8-digit code: 02130304.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2012 and again in the summer on 6/12/2012.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 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 13,675 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 9.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 48.6 %
Forested Land Use 38.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 5 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
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) 6.65
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		310.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6037 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 66
Chain Pickerel 56
Pirate Perch 48
American Eel 38
Least Brook Lamprey 35
Eastern Mudminnow 28
Bluegill 9
White Perch 8
Pumpkinseed 6
Yellow Perch 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Margined Madtom 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 16
Gammarus Amphipod 13
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 9
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 9
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 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.