MBSS Site Summary for: ZEKI-201-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-201-X-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-201-X-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Piney Branch in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/2016 and again in the summer on 6/13/2016.

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 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 3,460 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 26 %
Agricultural Land Use 19.2 %
Forested Land Use 33.4 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 57 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 50 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 54
American Eel 33
Fallfish 20
Least Brook Lamprey 11
Margined Madtom 5
Pumpkinseed 4
Blacknose Dace 3
Eastern Mudminnow 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Redfin Pickerel 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 24
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 18
Stenelmis Beetle 9
Neophylax Caddisfly 5
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 4
Haploperla Green Stonefly 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.