MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2004-11 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2004-12 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2004-14-15 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2004-16 (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 3/22/2004 and again in the summer on 7/7/2004.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 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 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 30 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.73
Conductivity 188 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		855.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 121
Blacknose Dace 111
Rosyside Dace 25
Longnose Dace 6
Yellow Bullhead 2
Central Stoneroller 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Spotted Salamander
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
Prosimulium Black Fly 25
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 14
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropodidae Trupetnet And Tubemaking Caddisfly 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.