MBSS Site Summary for: BALT-202-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-202-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-202-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-202-R-2001-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SAWMILL CR in the Baltimore Harbor watershed, 8-digit code: 02130903.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/2001 and again in the summer on 7/10/2001.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,269 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 59 %
Agricultural Land Use 13 %
Forested Land Use 27 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 62 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 55 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 55%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.8
Conductivity 420 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		332.2 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 110
Least Brook Lamprey 52
White Sucker 36
American Eel 10
Bluegill 9
Redfin Pickerel 8
Brown Bullhead 4
Chain Pickerel 2
Eastern Mosquitofish 2
Eastern Mudminnow 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Golden Shiner 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 39
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 21
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 5
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 3
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Limnodrilus Worm 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Culicoides 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Phylocentropus Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 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.