MBSS Site Summary for: CR-P-376-119-96


Located on PINEY RUN UT1 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/1996 and again in the summer on 6/26/1996.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 455 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 9 %
Agricultural Land Use 80.4 %
Forested Land Use 10.1 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.77
Conductivity 318 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1322 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chub 137
Blacknose Dace 94
Rosyside Dace 71
Longnose Dace 19
Central Stoneroller 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 57
Diamesa Bloodworm 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Eurylophella Mayfly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 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.