MBSS Site Summary for: AA-N-281-311-97


Located on SEVERN RUN in the Severn River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131002.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/1997 and again in the summer on 7/22/1997.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 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 9,915 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 28 %
Agricultural Land Use 19.1 %
Forested Land Use 43.8 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 172 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		389.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.4 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 44
Tessellated Darter 12
Yellow Perch 11
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Pumpkinseed 4
White Sucker 4
Blacknose Dace 2
Bluegill 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Satinfin Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 38
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Naididae Aquatic Worm 6
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Culicoides 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 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.