MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-202-C-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-202-C-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-202-C-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CLIFFORD HOLLOW BR OF TUSCARORA CR in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2001 and again in the summer on 7/12/2001.

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 1,961 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 96 %


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 = 55 meters
16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 16 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 6
Conductivity 40 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
7.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8 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 233
Blue Ridge Sculpin 130
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambaridae

Exotic Plants:

Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 12
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 10
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 7
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 5
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 5
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Epeorus Mayfly 3
Probezzia Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Peltoperlidae Roachlike Stonefly 2
Sweltsa Stonefly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Cura Flatworm 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Thienemanniella 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.