MBSS Site Summary for: BRIG-218-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRIG-218-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRIG-218-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 8/15/2014.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,048 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 15.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 45 %
Forested Land Use 36.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.35
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		326.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8866 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 108
Rosyside Dace 45
Central Stoneroller 20
Brown Trout 16
Longnose Dace 15
Largemouth Bass 14
River Chub 14
Bluegill 10
Margined Madtom 9
Common Shiner 5
Creek Chub 5
Tessellated Darter 5
White Sucker 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 27
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 22
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 7
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 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.