MBSS Site Summary for: PRET-219-X-2005


Located on Gunpowder Falls in the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130806.
This stream was visited in the spring on 8/1/2005 and again in the summer on 8/1/2005.

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 N R
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 17,577 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 66 %
Forested Land Use 31 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 66 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 27 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 71 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.7 mg/L
Conductivity 164 µmho/cm

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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 23
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Simulium Black Fly 7
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 5
Empididae Dance Fly 4
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 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.