MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2016_Midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2016_Midpoint looking upstream (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 3/7/2016 and again in the summer on 8/15/2016.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,846 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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 41 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 34 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.78
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1038.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.035 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 62
Blacknose Dace 47
Largemouth Bass 24
Creek Chub 21
Green Sunfish 7
Rosyside Dace 7
Bluegill 2
Longnose Dace 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Central Stoneroller 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Bamboo
English Ivy
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Vinca Vine
Wineberry
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 45
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 45
Neophylax Caddisfly 8
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 7
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 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.