MBSS Site Summary for: BACK-205-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-205-R-2015_Midpoint-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-205-R-2015_Midpoint-looking-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on HERRING RUN in the Back River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130901.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/15/2015 and again in the summer on 9/15/2015.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,669 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 95.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 4.3 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 34 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 30 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.6
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1653.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6686 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 28
Mummichog 20
American Eel 10
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Bluegill 2
Creek Chub 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
Multiflora Rose
Privet
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 31
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 21
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 20
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 10
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Antocha Crane Fly 4
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 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.