MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-202-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-202-R-2000-03_07 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-202-R-2000-03_08 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-202-R-2000-03_09 (Opens in a new window)

Located on EAST BR PATAPSCO in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2000 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 Good - 5.0 / 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 12,257 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 1.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 79.4 %
Forested Land Use 18.7 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 77 %
Embeddedness 17 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.97
Conductivity 190 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		411.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2 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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 532
White Sucker 95
Common Shiner 83
Cutlip Minnow 64
Blacknose Dace 63
Rosyside Dace 62
Longnose Dace 36
River Chub 30
Northern Hogsucker 24
Brown Trout 21
Bluegill 14
Central Stoneroller 13
Creek Chub 6
Tessellated Darter 6
Bluntnose Minnow 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 23
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 17
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 12
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 6
Diamesa Bloodworm 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 5
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 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.