MBSS Site Summary for: LOCH-101-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-101-R-2002-494 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-101-R-2002-495 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-101-R-2002-591 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-101-R-2002-592 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-101-R-2002-593 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SECOND MINE BR in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130805.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2002 and again in the summer on 7/22/2002.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 128 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 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 93 %
Forested Land Use 1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 39 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 99 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.2 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.2 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.9
Conductivity 250 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		592 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chub 46
Blacknose Dace 13
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Red Salamander

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
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 52
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 15
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Naididae Aquatic Worm 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 1
Molanna 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.