MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATUXENT R UT2 in the Rocky Gorge Dam watershed, 8-digit code: 02131107.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2002 and again in the summer on 7/23/2002.

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 - 4.3 / 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 670 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 4.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 58.1 %
Forested Land Use 35 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 29 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 53 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 18 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.88
Conductivity 210 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1095 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 233
Blacknose Dace 178
Creek Chub 56
Rosyside Dace 28
Longnose Dace 9
Fallfish 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 30
Prosimulium Black Fly 23
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 12
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 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.