MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-119-S-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2017-MidpointPDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-119-S-2017-MidpointPUpstream (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 3/22/2017 and again in the summer on 6/8/2017.

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 - 3.5 / 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 3.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.1 %
Forested Land Use 96.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 31 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.39
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		351.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.3248 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 52
Brook Trout 9
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Spiraea
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 33
EPEORUS Mayfly 25
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 10
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 5
SWELTSA Stonefly 4
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 4
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 2
MICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 2
LEUCROCUTA Mayfly 2
PARALEPTOPHLEBIA Blue Quill Mayfly 2
RHYACOPHILA Free-Living Caddisfly 2
ACRONEURIA Golden Stoneflies 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 1
DIAMESA Bloodworm 1
PEDICIA 1
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
DOLOPHILODES Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 1
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur 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.