MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2015_At-P-midpoint-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2015_At-P-midpoint-looking-upstream (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 4/16/2015 and again in the summer on 9/11/2015.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.93
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1071.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6462 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 61
Blue Ridge Sculpin 56
Creek Chub 37
Green Sunfish 16
Rosyside Dace 12
Largemouth Bass 8
White Sucker 4
Longnose Dace 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Tessellated Darter 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Vinca Vine
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 53
Prosimulium Black Fly 14
Simulium Black Fly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Anafroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Neoplasta 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 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.