MBSS Site Summary for: WEBR-303-X-2006


Located on Western Branch in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2006 and again in the summer on 7/25/2006.

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 N R
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 59,382 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 36 %
Agricultural Land Use 24 %
Forested Land Use 39 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat not sampled
Epifaunal Substrate not sampled
Velocity/Depth Diversity not sampled
Pool Quality not sampled
Riffle Quality not sampled
Shading not sampled
Embeddedness not sampled


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.72
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1078.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9826 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 35
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 10
Naididae Aquatic Worm 7
Hydrobaenus Midge 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Gammarus Amphipod 6
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 5
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 4
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Hydrobiidae Pebble Snail 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum 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.