MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-302-X-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-302-X-2000-15_07 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-302-X-2000-15_08 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-302-X-2000-15_09 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-302-X-2000-15_10 (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 7/17/2000.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 3,033 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 27.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 51.1 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.46
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1185 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.4 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 102
Creek Chub 97
Rosyside Dace 56
White Sucker 54
Brown Trout 52
Longnose Dace 47
Central Stoneroller 33
American Eel 3
Northern Hogsucker 3
Green Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 81
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia 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.