MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-107-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-107-R-2004-113 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-107-R-2004-114 (Opens in a new window)

Located on GWYNNS FALLS in the Gwynns Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130905.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2004 and again in the summer on 6/15/2004.

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 - 2.3 / 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 1,495 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 63 %
Agricultural Land Use 22 %
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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 18.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.17
Conductivity 367 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
1135 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
Creek Chub 140
Blacknose Dace 120
Central Stoneroller 21
Longnose Dace 18
White Sucker 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 56
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 34
Antocha Crane Fly 16
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Thienemannimyia group 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.