MBSS Site Summary for: MAGO-205-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MAGO-205-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MAGO-205-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MAGOTHY RIVER in the Magothy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2008 and again in the summer on 6/13/2008.

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 Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,064 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 38 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.6 %
Forested Land Use 43.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 54 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
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 23.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.66
Conductivity 269 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		477.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5966 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
American Eel 57
Bluegill 25
Pumpkinseed 6
Tessellated Darter 6
Largemouth Bass 4
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyx Amphipod 26
Stenelmis Beetle 19
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 14
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 7
Musculium Fingernail Clam 5
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 4
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Caenis Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diptera True Fly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.