MBSS Site Summary for: BACK-112-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-112-R-2002-448 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-112-R-2002-449 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-112-R-2002-450 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-112-R-2002-535 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-112-R-2002-536 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MOORE'S RUN in the Back River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130901.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2002 and again in the summer on 6/18/2002.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 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 2,514 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 94 %
Agricultural Land Use 2 %
Forested Land Use 3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.92
Conductivity 430 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1688 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Mummichog 378
Blacknose Dace 52
Fathead Minnow 44
White Sucker 24
Swallowtail Shiner 16
Redbreast Sunfish 5
Creek Chub 4
Satinfin Shiner 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 28
Lumbriculidae Worm 21
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Enallagma Narrow-Winged Damselfly 11
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 8
Limnodrilus Worm 5
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Glossiphoniidae Leech 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.