MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-108-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTH BRANCH PATAPSCO RIVER 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 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 7.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 29.2 %
Forested Land Use 61.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 22 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 64 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.67
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		486.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2967 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 414
Blacknose Dace 147
Longnose Dace 92
Rosyside Dace 16
Central Stoneroller 7
Cutlip Minnow 7
American Eel 5
Green Sunfish 5
White Sucker 5
Brown Trout 3
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Daylily
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 38
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 12
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 8
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Corynoneura 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.