MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-297-X-2020

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2020_MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2020_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 3/12/2020 and again in the summer on 8/19/2020.

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 - 4.0 / 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.62
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		829.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4147 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 114
Green Sunfish 103
Blue Ridge Sculpin 33
Spotfin Shiner 24
Longnose Dace 16
Rosyside Dace 6
Bluntnose Minnow 5
Creek Chub 5
White Sucker 5
Fantail Darter 3
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Bluehead Chub 1
Central Stoneroller 1
Potomac Sculpin 1
Rock Bass 1
Rosyface Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 28
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 22
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 19
DIAMESA Bloodworm 10
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 4
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 4
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 4
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 3
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 3
TELOGANOPSIS Mayfly 2
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
STEMPELLINELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
CORYDALUS Dobsonfly 1
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 1
SIMULIUM Black Fly 1
GIRARDIA Freshwater Flatworm 1
PROSTOMA Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
GLOSSOSOMA Little Black Caddisfly 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 1
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 1
FERRISSIA Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 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.