MBSS Site Summary for: BRIG-132-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRIG-132-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRIG-132-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATUXENT RIVER UT in the Brighton Dam watershed, 8-digit code: 02131108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2014 and again in the summer on 6/10/2014.

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 Poor - 1.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 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 216 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 12.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 47.1 %
Forested Land Use 39.1 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters
9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 60 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 60%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.08
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
301.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3674 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 126
Creek Chub 28
Bluegill 7
Brown Bullhead 2
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 15
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 9
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 9
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Neophylax Caddisfly 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Stegopterna Black Fly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 2
Perlidae Common Stonefly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura 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.