MBSS Site Summary for: WIRH-220-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2014-MidpointUpstream (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 3/6/2014 and again in the summer on 7/15/2014.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,675 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 16.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 34.9 %
Forested Land Use 38.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters
19/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters
0/20 (Poor)
Shading 55 %
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) 6.57
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
296.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2764 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 85
American Eel 41
Chain Pickerel 38
Pirate Perch 32
Bluegill 31
Eastern Mudminnow 25
Least Brook Lamprey 16
Eastern Mosquitofish 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Margined Madtom 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Tadpole Madtom 2
Redfin Pickerel 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

Orconectes limosus
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Oriental Bittersweet
Porcelainberry
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 20
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 12
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 7
Gammarus Amphipod 6
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Mystacides 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Paracladopelma Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Brachycentrus Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Neoplasta 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.