MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-297-X-2021

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2021_MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-297-X-2021_MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE TUSCARORA CREEK in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 2140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/4/2021 and again in the summer on 8/2/2021.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,873 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 26.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 25.9 %
Forested Land Use 47.9 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 0.55 %
Embeddedness 0.6 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.04
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		657.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.723 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 307
Blue Ridge Sculpin 206
Potomac Sculpin 69
Green Sunfish 49
Longnose Dace 49
Creek Chub 24
White Sucker 19
Fantail Darter 17
Central Stoneroller 12
Rosyside Dace 3
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Greenside Darter 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
Callery/Bradford Pear
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Mimosa
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Shrub Honeysuckle
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 18
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 10
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 8
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 8
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 6
CRANGONYX Amphipod 5
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 5
ALLOCAPNIA Small Winter Stonefly 4
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 4
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 3
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 3
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 3
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 2
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 2
SIMULIUM Black Fly 2
DIAMESA Bloodworm 2
TELOGANOPSIS Mayfly 2
HYDROPTILA Microcaddisfly 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 1
PARATANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
TIPULA Crane Fly 1
CHIRONOMINI Non-Biting Midge 1
MACRONYCHUS Riffle Beetle 1
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 1
BAETIDAE Small Minnow Mayfly 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 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.