MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-103-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-103-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window)

Located on GILLIS FALLS UT1 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2000 and again in the summer on 6/15/2000.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 264 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 94.5 %
Forested Land Use 5.3 %


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 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		289.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 219
Blue Ridge Sculpin 205
Bluegill 1
Creek Chub 1
Largemouth Bass 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 27
Neophylax Caddisfly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 9
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 5
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 5
Eurylophella Mayfly 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Tipula Crane Fly 3
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 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.