MBSS Site Summary for: LOCH-114-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-114-R-2016_downstream from midpoint (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-114-R-2016_Upstream from midpoint (Opens in a new window)

Located on Oregon Branch in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130805.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/2016 and again in the summer on 6/29/2016.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,559 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 15.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 39.1 %
Forested Land Use 43.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.96
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2055.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.177 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 210
Creek Chub 151
Rosyside Dace 63
Longnose Dace 60
White Sucker 30
Brown Trout 6
Cutlip Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 25
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 24
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 23
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Psephenus Water Penny 6
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 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.