MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-108-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTH BR PATAPSCO R UT3 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/2000 and again in the summer on 6/19/2000.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 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 1,471 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 31.5 %
Forested Land Use 68 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 12 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.41
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		497.9 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 530
Blacknose Dace 122
Longnose Dace 29
Rosyside Dace 20
Central Stoneroller 5
Bluntnose Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 63
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 28
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 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.