MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT PATUXENT RIVER in the Rocky Gorge Dam watershed, 8-digit code: 02131107.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2011 and again in the summer on 7/27/2011.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 33 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		922.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9132 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 96
Blacknose Dace 53
White Sucker 16
Rosyside Dace 12
Bluegill 10
Creek Chub 9
Fallfish 9
Tessellated Darter 9
Largemouth Bass 8
Brown Bullhead 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Green Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 20
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 18
Neophylax Caddisfly 15
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 10
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 10
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Diploperla 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 2
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 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.