MBSS Site Summary for: ABPG-204-R-2016


Located on Romney Creek Middle Branch in the Aberdeen Proving Ground watershed, 8-digit code: 02130705.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/2016 and again in the summer on 8/23/2016.

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 - 4.0 / 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 2,482 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 69 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.4 %
Forested Land Use 16.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 5 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.85
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		753.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10.735 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 51
Golden Shiner 50
Brown Bullhead 16
Bluegill 11
Eastern Mosquitofish 11
Pumpkinseed 11
Redfin Pickerel 10
Creek Chubsucker 9
Yellow Bullhead 4
American Eel 2
Goldfish 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Black Racer

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 37
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 18
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 18
Caecidotea Isopod 8
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 5
Caenis Mayfly 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Tanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Tabanus Biting Horsefly 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Sphaeromias 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini 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.