MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-301-X-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-301-X-2000-15_04 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-301-X-2000-15_05 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-301-X-2000-15_06 (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 4/19/2000 and again in the summer on 8/16/2000.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 20,897 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 41.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 20.9 %
Forested Land Use 36.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 30 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 10.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.98
Conductivity 390 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1264 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.8 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 279
Central Stoneroller 122
Swallowtail Shiner 107
Satinfin Shiner 83
Tessellated Darter 45
White Sucker 41
Creek Chub 36
Northern Hogsucker 20
Cutlip Minnow 16
Common Shiner 12
Largemouth Bass 5
Rock Bass 4
Smallmouth Bass 2
Green Sunfish 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 28
Simulium Black Fly 21
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 20
Stenelmis Beetle 12
Antocha Crane Fly 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenacron Mayfly 2
Corbicula Basket Clam 2
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 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.