MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-301-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-301-X-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-301-X-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on BALLENGER CREEK in the Lower Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140302.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/24/2014 and again in the summer on 8/20/2014.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 12,749 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 40.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 40.4 %
Forested Land Use 14 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 73 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 65 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 65%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.73
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		3139.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8414 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 22 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 112
Green Sunfish 43
Bluegill 27
Redbreast Sunfish 25
White Sucker 16
Blue Ridge Sculpin 7
Largemouth Bass 6
Rock Bass 6
Pumpkinseed 5
Yellow Bullhead 5
Bluntnose Minnow 4
Longear Sunfish 4
Greenside Darter 3
Lepomis Hybrid 3
Fallfish 2
Fantail Darter 2
American Eel 1
Common Carp 1
Longnose Dace 1
River Chub 1
Smallmouth Bass 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Shrub Honeysuckle
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 30
Orthocladiinae Midge 18
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Gammarus Amphipod 9
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 8
Naididae Aquatic Worm 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 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.