MBSS Site Summary for: LOCH-120-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-120-S-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCH-120-S-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BAISMAN RUN in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130805.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/2014 and again in the summer on 7/22/2014.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 417 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 39.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.2 %
Forested Land Use 59.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.6
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		216.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.861 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 43
Rosyside Dace 35
Creek Chub 32
Longnose Dace 7
Brown Trout 5
River Chub 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 40
Epeorus Mayfly 13
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 13
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 3
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 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.