MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-301-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-301-R-2004-98 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-301-R-2004-99 (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 3/16/2004 and again in the summer on 8/19/2004.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 33,325 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 62 %
Agricultural Land Use 15 %
Forested Land Use 23 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.78
Conductivity 344 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1494 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.5 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 19 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 194
Tessellated Darter 99
American Eel 52
Satinfin Shiner 42
Redbreast Sunfish 26
Spottail Shiner 26
Smallmouth Bass 10
Cutlip Minnow 7
White Sucker 6
Northern Hogsucker 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Margined Madtom 2
Bluegill 1
Central Stoneroller 1
Common Shiner 1
Mummichog 1
Striped Bass 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 39
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 13
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Naididae Aquatic Worm 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 8
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 7
Corbicula Basket Clam 3
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Psephenus Water Penny 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.