MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-298-X-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-298-X-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-298-X-2013-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on TUSCARORA CREEK in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/2013 and again in the summer on 8/27/2013.

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 Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,666 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 31.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.6 %
Forested Land Use 40.7 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 24 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 15 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.68
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1153.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.4879 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
Potomac Sculpin 712
Blacknose Dace 604
Fantail Darter 116
White Sucker 59
Green Sunfish 42
Longnose Dace 25
Bluntnose Minnow 22
Creek Chub 16
Rosyside Dace 3
Blue Ridge Sculpin 2
Eastern Mosquitofish 2
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Antocha Crane Fly 10
Diamesa Bloodworm 9
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Heterocloeon 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus 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.