MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-298-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-298-X-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-298-X-2016-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 4/6/2016 and again in the summer on 6/28/2016.

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 - 3.0 / 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 10 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.82
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		911.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2396 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 672
Potomac Sculpin 610
Fantail Darter 96
Longnose Dace 90
Blue Ridge Sculpin 64
White Sucker 31
Green Sunfish 22
Bluntnose Minnow 19
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Greenside Darter 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Gray Treefrog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 25
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 10
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Teloganopsis Mayfly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Neoplasta 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Eukiefferiella 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.