MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-299-X-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-299-X-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UMON-299-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 8/23/2013.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 3,745 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 31.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.8 %
Forested Land Use 40.3 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 27 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.67
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1285 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.5055 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 469
Blacknose Dace 304
Fantail Darter 131
Longnose Dace 72
White Sucker 21
Creek Chub 15
Blue Ridge Sculpin 11
Green Sunfish 11
Redbreast Sunfish 5
Eastern Mosquitofish 4
Rosyside Dace 3
Rock Bass 2
Spotfin Shiner 2
Brown Trout 1
Greenside Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Cope's Gray Treefrog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Callery Pear
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Mimosa
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Diamesa Bloodworm 33
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Neophylax Caddisfly 7
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Psephenus Water Penny 3
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 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.