MBSS Site Summary for: BALT-106-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-106-R-2004-74 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-106-R-2004-75 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MARLEY CR in the Baltimore Harbor watershed, 8-digit code: 02130903.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2004 and again in the summer on 6/14/2004.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 436 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 74 %
Agricultural Land Use 14 %
Forested Land Use 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 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 73 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 80 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 80%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.5 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.5 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.85
Conductivity 321 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		793.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.2 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
Redfin Pickerel 17
Pumpkinseed 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Garlic Mustard
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 29
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 29
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Lumbriculidae Worm 4
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Isotomidae Springtail 2
Diptera True Fly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Gammarus Amphipod 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.