MBSS Site Summary for: AA-N-244-203-95


Located on SAWMILL CR UT2 in the Baltimore Harbor watershed, 8-digit code: 02130903.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/23/1995 and again in the summer on 7/3/1995.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 578 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 75.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 10.6 %
Forested Land Use 13.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.99
Conductivity 300 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		946.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
White Sucker 30
American Eel 24
Tessellated Darter 6
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 20
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 4
Tipula Crane Fly 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia 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.