MBSS Site Summary for: RKGR-119-S-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2017-MidpointAtPLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site RKGR-119-S-2017-MidpointAtPLookingUpstream (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 3/21/2017 and again in the summer on 8/8/2017.

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 - 5.0 / 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 32 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.87
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1112.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3694 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 45
Largemouth Bass 42
Blacknose Dace 22
Yellow Bullhead 15
Creek Chub 8
Rosyside Dace 5
Common Carp 1
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 Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 37
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 12
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 9
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 9
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 9
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 6
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 4
ACRONEURIA Golden Stoneflies 3
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 3
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 3
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 2
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 2
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 2
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 2
GOMPHIDAE Clubtail Dragonfly 2
AMELETUS Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 2
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 2
ANCHYTARSUS Beetle 1
SIMULIUM Black Fly 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 1
STENACRON 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.