MBSS Site Summary for: JONE-315-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site JONE-315-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site JONE-315-S-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NORTH BRANCH JONES FALLS in the Jones Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130904.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2011 and again in the summer on 6/6/2011.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,805 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 39.5 %
Forested Land Use 54.4 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.82
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1196.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2377 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 67
Bluegill 44
White Sucker 42
Green Sunfish 40
Creek Chub 20
Brown Trout 16
Longnose Dace 16
Cutlip Minnow 8
Tessellated Darter 8
Northern Hogsucker 3
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Ringneck Snake
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 27
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 18
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 12
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 10
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 3
Tipula Crane Fly 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 2
Psychoda 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.