MBSS Site Summary for: WA-V-120-233-95


Located on SHARMANS BR in the Antietam Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140502.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/1/1995 and again in the summer on 7/10/1995.

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 - 3.3 / 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 3,411 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 23.7 %
Forested Land Use 75.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.6
Conductivity 309 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1485 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 363
Blacknose Dace 306
Creek Chub 202
Fantail Darter 116
Central Stoneroller 76
Potomac Sculpin 45
White Sucker 25
Longnose Dace 18
Bluntnose Minnow 17
Rock Bass 14
Rosyside Dace 14
Greenside Darter 7
Spotfin Shiner 3
Bluegill 2
Fallfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Long-Tailed Salamander
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 26
Neophylax Caddisfly 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 10
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 8
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Gammarus Amphipod 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Larsia Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Psephenus Water Penny 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.