MBSS Site Summary for: UMON-299-X-2014


Located on LITTLE TUSCARORA CREEK in the Upper Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140303.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2014 and again in the summer on 7/2/2014.

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.
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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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.47
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1427.45 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1784 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 436
Blacknose Dace 241
Fantail Darter 93
Longnose Dace 49
Bluntnose Minnow 11
Blue Ridge Sculpin 8
Green Sunfish 5
Greenside Darter 4
Rock Bass 4
White Sucker 4
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Eastern Mosquitofish 2
Bluegill 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Maiden Grass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Neophylax Caddisfly 13
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
Teloganopsis Mayfly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Helicopsyche 1
Neoplasta 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.