MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-303-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-303-R-2004-118 (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 6/16/2004.

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 - 3.3 / 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 12,368 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 42 %
Agricultural Land Use 28 %
Forested Land Use 28 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.74
Conductivity 371 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1028 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Green Sunfish 76
Central Stoneroller 27
Swallowtail Shiner 23
Longnose Dace 18
White Sucker 17
Smallmouth Bass 9
Creek Chub 8
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Rock Bass 7
Cutlip Minnow 5
Common Shiner 3
Margined Madtom 3
Bluegill 2
Northern Hogsucker 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Spotted 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
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 78
Antocha Crane Fly 9
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 2
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Oemopteryx Stonefly 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.