MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-104-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-104-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINEY BR 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 6/21/2000.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 337 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 10.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 77.3 %
Forested Land Use 12.1 %


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 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.96
Conductivity 210 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		425.6 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 114
Blue Ridge Sculpin 106
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 22
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 18
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 18
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 17
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 6
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 6
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 4
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.