MBSS Site Summary for: LOCH-112-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-112-R-2016_Downstream from midpoint (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-112-R-2016_Upstream from midpoint (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT to McGill Run in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130805.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/22/2016 and again in the summer on 6/7/2016.

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 - 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 706 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 3.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 62 %
Forested Land Use 32.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.55
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		374.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7819 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 63
Rosyside Dace 42
Blacknose Dace 35
Longnose Dace 7
Creek Chub 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 31
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 14
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Neophylax Caddisfly 11
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Simulium Black Fly 4
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 3
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 2
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Anchytarsus Beetle 2
Teloganopsis Mayfly 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 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.