MBSS Site Summary for: MAGO-102-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MAGO-102-R-2003-0827 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MAGO-102-R-2003-0828 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CATTAIL CR (WC) UT2 in the Magothy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2003 and again in the summer on 6/16/2003.

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 - 1.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 486 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 64 %
Agricultural Land Use 14 %
Forested Land Use 20 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 1.7 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (1.7 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.39
Conductivity 229 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		503.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.4 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 12
American Eel 1
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Box Turtle
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Musculium Fingernail Clam 25
Diptera True Fly 11
Lumbriculidae Worm 4
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 3
Hydroporus Water Beetle 2
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Chauliodes 2
Platycentropus 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Ormosia Cranefly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Dolichopodidae Long-Legged Fly 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.