MBSS Site Summary for: ROCK-106-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-106-R-2017-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-106-R-2017-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT North Branch Rock Creek in the Rock Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140206.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/18/2017 and again in the summer on 8/1/2017.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 282 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 71.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 24.2 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 26 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.76
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1319.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5574 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 333
Creek Chub 115
Rosyside Dace 79
Longnose Dace 15
White Sucker 13
Potomac Sculpin 10
Blue Ridge Sculpin 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 25
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 12
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 10
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 6
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 4
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 3
SPHAEROMIAS 2
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 2
SIMULIUM Black Fly 2
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 2
BRILLIA Non-Biting Midges 2
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 2
PARATANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
DUBIRAPHIA Riffle Beetle 2
MACRONYCHUS Riffle Beetle 2
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 2
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 2
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 2
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 1
NANOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
TIPULA Crane Fly 1
HELISOMA 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE 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.