MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-229-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-229-R-2014-30mFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-229-R-2014-30mFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on MUDDY RUN in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2014 and again in the summer on 6/30/2014.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,327 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 11.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.6 %
Forested Land Use 87.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.62
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		590.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4857 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 194
Blacknose Dace 60
Potomac Sculpin 34
Fantail Darter 7
Green Sunfish 6
Longnose Dace 4
Pumpkinseed 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 88
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Heterocloeon 2
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 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.