MBSS Site Summary for: BA-P-379-307-96


Located on GUNPOWDER FALLS in the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130806.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/15/1996 and again in the summer on 8/15/1996.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 20,516 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 0.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 66 %
Forested Land Use 33.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.35
Conductivity 138 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		437.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 68
Margined Madtom 53
Blue Ridge Sculpin 49
Common Shiner 43
Northern Hogsucker 22
White Sucker 16
River Chub 15
Creek Chub 11
Central Stoneroller 10
Green Sunfish 2
Rosyside Dace 2
Blacknose Dace 1
Bluegill 1
Smallmouth Bass 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 22
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 11
Epeorus Mayfly 6
Simulium Black Fly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 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.