MBSS Site Summary for: BALT-108-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-108-R-2004-90 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-108-R-2004-91 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CABIN BR CURTIS CR in the Baltimore Harbor watershed, 8-digit code: 02130903.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2004 and again in the summer on 6/23/2004.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,825 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 78 %
Agricultural Land Use 5 %
Forested Land Use 15 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 99 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.79
Conductivity 744 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1336 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 65
American Eel 15
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Bluegill 5
Mummichog 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 50
Gammarus Amphipod 29
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Prodiamesa 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 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.