MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-068-220-95


Located on ROCKBURN BR in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/27/1995 and again in the summer on 6/27/1995.

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 - 3.7 / 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 1,710 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 49.6 %
Forested Land Use 48.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.97
Conductivity 204 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		734.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 69
Longnose Dace 39
Blue Ridge Sculpin 37
American Eel 26
Tessellated Darter 3
Bluegill 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 29
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 20
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 8
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Empididae Dance Fly 4
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Glossosomatidae Saddlecase Maker Caddisfly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance 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.