MBSS Site Summary for: BA-P-376-105-95


Located on FALLS RUN in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/1995 and again in the summer on 6/12/1995.

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 - 1.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 32 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 55.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 5.4 %
Forested Land Use 39.9 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.74
Conductivity 262 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		419.4 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 20
Blue Ridge Sculpin 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 65
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 22
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Anchytarsus Beetle 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Tabanidae Horse Fly 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.