MBSS Site Summary for: ROCK-204-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-204-R-2003-762 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ROCK-204-R-2003-763 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NORHT BR ROCK CR in the Rock Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140206.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2003 and again in the summer on 6/16/2003.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,868 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 12 %
Agricultural Land Use 51 %
Forested Land Use 36 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 30 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.19
Conductivity 133 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		474.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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 143
Potomac Sculpin 107
White Sucker 27
Rosyside Dace 21
Tessellated Darter 14
Creek Chub 9
Green Sunfish 9
Longnose Dace 4
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 39
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 21
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 15
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 6
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 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.