MBSS Site Summary for: GWYN-306-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-306-R-2004-96 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GWYN-306-R-2004-97 (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 - 3.3 / 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 35,741 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 63 %
Agricultural Land Use 15 %
Forested Land Use 22 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 52 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 28 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.85
Conductivity 296 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1564 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 79
Longnose Dace 66
Redbreast Sunfish 26
Smallmouth Bass 20
Tessellated Darter 16
White Sucker 8
Cutlip Minnow 6
Mummichog 5
Satinfin Shiner 5
Striped Bass 5
Pumpkinseed 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Naididae Aquatic Worm 23
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 16
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 7
Cura Flatworm 6
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Collembola Springtail 2
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Limnodrilus Worm 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus 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.