MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-105-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-105-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTH BR PATAPSCO R UT5 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2000 and again in the summer on 6/20/2000.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 230 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 4.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 66.2 %
Forested Land Use 29.7 %


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 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 20 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.23
Conductivity 100 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		549.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 52
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 45
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 14
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 12
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 8
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius 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.