MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-333-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-333-R-2003-677 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NORTH BR PATAPSCO R in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2003 and again in the summer on 8/4/2003.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 33,691 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 7 %
Agricultural Land Use 67 %
Forested Land Use 26 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 15 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 86 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.39
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		479.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 19 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 129
Bluntnose Minnow 104
Central Stoneroller 67
Common Shiner 65
Cutlip Minnow 37
River Chub 24
Tessellated Darter 23
White Sucker 21
Redbreast Sunfish 18
Margined Madtom 17
Rosyside Dace 15
Longnose Dace 12
Blacknose Dace 7
Northern Hogsucker 6
Bluegill 4
Rosyface Shiner 3
Smallmouth Bass 3
Creek Chub 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 21
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Antocha Crane Fly 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 6
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 4
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 4
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 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.