MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-132-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-132-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-132-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on STEEP CREEK UT in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2014 and again in the summer on 6/5/2014.

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 Poor - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 241 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 7.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 92.9 %


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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 38 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 57 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 5 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 5.14
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-7.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7355 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Slimy Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 50
Prosimulium Black Fly 20
Stegopterna Black Fly 13
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 13
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 13
Stygobromus Amphipod 9
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 8
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 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.