MBSS Site Summary for: WIRH-220-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2016_midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site WIRH-220-S-2016_midpoint looking upstream (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 4/18/2016 and again in the summer on 9/7/2016.

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 - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,707 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
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) 6.63
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		348.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.7856 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
Bluegill 30
American Eel 26
Chain Pickerel 24
Least Brook Lamprey 15
Tessellated Darter 13
Pirate Perch 12
Tadpole Madtom 5
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Yellow Perch 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Margined Madtom 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
White Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 30
Heterocloeon 27
Simulium Black Fly 17
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 16
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 9
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 7
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 4
Corbicula Basket Clam 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 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.