MBSS Site Summary for: BALT-207-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-207-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-207-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BALT-207-R-2001-3 (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 3/1/2001 and again in the summer on 7/25/2001.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,166 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 72 %
Agricultural Land Use 8 %
Forested Land Use 18 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 8 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 68 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.75
Conductivity 280 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		431 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 76
White Sucker 30
Redbreast Sunfish 24
Chain Pickerel 13
American Eel 12
Creek Chubsucker 11
Redfin Pickerel 11
Pumpkinseed 9
Bluegill 7
Brown Bullhead 7
Golden Shiner 3
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Eastern Mudminnow 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Yellow Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 23
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 19
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 14
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 10
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 9
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Endochironomus 5
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 4
Corixidae Water Boatman 3
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 2
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Promenetus 1
Somatochlora 1
Enallagma Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Lumbriculidae 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.