MBSS Site Summary for: ROCK-203-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-203-R-2017-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-203-R-2017-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on 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 7/11/2017.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,246 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 60.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 10 %
Forested Land Use 24.8 %


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 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 34 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.88
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		888.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.5831 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 21 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Cyprinella Sp. 111
Longnose Dace 72
Tessellated Darter 72
American Eel 49
Blacknose Dace 48
Margined Madtom 40
Swallowtail Shiner 35
Creek Chub 34
Northern Hogsucker 28
Bluegill 26
White Sucker 25
Yellow Bullhead 19
Pumpkinseed 17
Redbreast Sunfish 14
Sea Lamprey 8
Cutlip Minnow 7
Eastern Mosquitofish 7
Brown Bullhead 3
Fallfish 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Fantail Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 38
CRANGONYX Amphipod 15
STENELMIS Beetle 15
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 5
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 5
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 4
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 4
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
DIAMESA Bloodworm 2
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
SPHAEROMIAS 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
CORYDALUS Dobsonfly 1
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 1
HYDROBAENUS Midge 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
BRILLIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ARGIA Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
LYMNAEIDAE Pond Snail 1
DUBIRAPHIA Riffle Beetle 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.