MBSS Site Summary for: WIRH-220-S-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2013-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2013-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 3/11/2013 and again in the summer on 8/28/2013.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters
18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 6.43
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
199.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.9274 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 74
Least Brook Lamprey 42
American Eel 41
Chain Pickerel 38
Tessellated Darter 32
Pirate Perch 20
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Pumpkinseed 4
Yellow Perch 4
Largemouth Bass 3
Margined Madtom 3
Brown Bullhead 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Spring Peeper
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:

Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Oriental Bittersweet
Paper Mulberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 16
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 16
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 16
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 15
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 3
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
EPHYDRIDAE Shore Fly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Neoplasta 1
Perlesta 1
Heteroplectron Caddisfly 1
Erioptera Cranefly 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Orthocladius 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.