MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-119-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2012_Mid-point_P_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2012_Mid-point_P_Upstream (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 3/7/2012 and again in the summer on 6/7/2012.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 30 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 57 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.37
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		329.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.578 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 56
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 78
Epeorus Mayfly 16
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Taenionema 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 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.