MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-104-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-104-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-104-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINEY BRANCH UT in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2014 and again in the summer on 6/27/2014.

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 - 3.3 / 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 36.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 46.9 %
Forested Land Use 16.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 23 meters
8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.04
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
408.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8458 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 78
Blue Ridge Sculpin 64
Creek Chub 13
Rosyside Dace 8
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 10
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Hydrobaenus Midge 8
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Anchytarsus Beetle 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 2
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Neoplasta 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 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.