MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2010

Site Photos

Located on UT to Patuxent River in the Rocky Gorge Dam watershed, 8-digit code: 02131107.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/22/2010 and again in the summer on 6/15/2010.

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 673 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 4.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 58.3 %
Forested Land Use 34.8 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.785
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		997.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1049 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 128
Blacknose Dace 45
Creek Chub 5
Green Sunfish 5
Longnose Dace 4
Rosyside Dace 4
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Bamboo
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 38
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 11
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Demicryptochironomus 1
Diploperla 1
Dixa 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 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.