MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-297-X-2019

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2019_MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2019_MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE TUSCARORA CREEK in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2019 and again in the summer on 7/3/2019.

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 Good - 4.7 / 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 2,873 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 23 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.3 %
Forested Land Use 49.6 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.49
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		629.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.489 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 226
Blacknose Dace 107
Green Sunfish 68
Potomac Sculpin 63
Longnose Dace 58
Fantail Darter 18
Creek Chub 4
Fallfish 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
White Sucker 2
Rock Bass 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Shrub Honeysuckle
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 32
DIAMESA Bloodworm 9
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 7
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 7
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 7
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 6
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 5
CRANGONYX Amphipod 3
GIRARDIA Freshwater Flatworm 3
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 3
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
CALOPTERYX Damselfly 2
HYDROBAENUS Midge 2
NANOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
CARDIOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midge 1
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 1
PYCNOPSYCHE Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 1
TELOGANOPSIS Mayfly 1
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 1
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS 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.