MBSS Site Summary for: ZEKI-303-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-303-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-303-X-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on ZEKIAH SWAMP in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2011 and again in the summer on 6/29/2011.

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 - 4.7 / 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 7,687 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 10.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.1 %
Forested Land Use 76.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 12 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.755
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		218.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.3328 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 32
American Eel 17
Eastern Mudminnow 13
Redfin Pickerel 8
Chain Pickerel 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 19
Crangonyx Amphipod 18
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 13
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 3
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
HYDROBIIDAE Pebble Snail 2
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Campeloma 1
Perlinella 1
Somatochlora 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Hydatophylax Northern Caddisfly 1
Rheocricotopus 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.