MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-345-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-345-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-345-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Bush Run in the Lower Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140302.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/6/2016 and again in the summer on 8/11/2016.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 11,917 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 34.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 33 %
Forested Land Use 27.7 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 29 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.87
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		996.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8744 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 24 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 379
Blue Ridge Sculpin 324
Potomac Sculpin 161
Spottail Shiner 131
Longnose Dace 78
White Sucker 58
Bluntnose Minnow 44
Bluegill 18
Creek Chub 14
Tessellated Darter 13
Common Shiner 10
Rosyface Shiner 9
Silverjaw Minnow 8
Central Stoneroller 7
Largemouth Bass 7
Greenside Darter 5
Fallfish 3
Fantail Darter 3
Green Sunfish 2
Rock Bass 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Cutlip Minnow 1
Rainbow Darter 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 36
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 18
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 10
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Empididae Dance Fly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 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.