MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-119-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BUZZARD BRANCH in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/16/2011 and again in the summer on 8/2/2011.

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 1,049 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 0.1 %
Forested Land Use 96.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 22 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 64 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.48
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
303.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.0198 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 43
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Slimy Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 12
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 9
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 9
Epeorus Mayfly 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Leucrocuta Mayfly 3
Sweltsa Stonefly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Taenionema 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
TAENIOPTERYGIDAE Winter Stonefly 1
BAETIDAE Small Minnow Mayfly 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 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.