MBSS Site Summary for: BACK-221-R-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-221-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-221-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_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 3/16/2023 and again in the summer on 8/16/2023.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area No data available A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 96.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 3.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 2 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 73 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 25 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 10.02 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1616 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.271 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 751
Creek Chub 260
Swallowtail Shiner 31
Satinfin Shiner 18
Mummichog 15
American Eel 14
Redbreast Sunfish 12
Spotfin Shiner 11
White Sucker 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 74
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 10
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 3
CARDIOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midge 2
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 1
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
SUBLETTEA 1
DIAMESA Bloodworm 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.