MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-204-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-204-R-2003-624 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-204-R-2003-625 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-204-R-2003-626 (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 3/4/2003 and again in the summer on 6/25/2003.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,734 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 8 %
Agricultural Land Use 71 %
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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 30 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 50 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 33 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.48
Conductivity 210 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		508.3 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 180
Rosyside Dace 166
Blacknose Dace 127
Common Shiner 80
Cutlip Minnow 80
Bluntnose Minnow 61
White Sucker 37
Longnose Dace 33
Central Stoneroller 15
Creek Chub 11
River Chub 10
Bluegill 9
Redbreast Sunfish 6
Brown Trout 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Slimy Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 25
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 18
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ormosia Cranefly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Ancylidae Limpet 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 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.