MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATUXENT RIVER UT in the Rocky Gorge Dam watershed, 8-digit code: 02131107.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/21/2014 and again in the summer on 7/7/2014.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 673 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 9.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 33.4 %
Forested Land Use 52.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 54 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.71
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		928.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3914 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 84
Blacknose Dace 49
Creek Chub 22
Largemouth Bass 6
Rosyside Dace 6
Green Sunfish 5
Fallfish 3
White Sucker 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 25
Simulium Black Fly 21
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 6
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diploperla 1
Nilotanypus 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.