MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-119-S-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BUZZARD BR in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2003 and again in the summer on 7/31/2003.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,122 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 3.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.3 %
Forested Land Use 96.4 %


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 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 58 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 17.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.25
Conductivity 60 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
248.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.3 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 17
Brown Trout 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 13
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Sweltsa Stonefly 8
Hexatoma Crane Fly 8
Epeorus Mayfly 8
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 5
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 5
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Lanthus Clubtail Dragonfly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Plecoptera Stonefly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Oemopteryx Stonefly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid 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.