MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-108-X-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-X-2017-MidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-108-X-2017-MidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Piney Run in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2017 and again in the summer on 6/5/2017.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 425 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 89 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.4 %
Forested Land Use 10.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 37 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 55 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 55%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 194
Creek Chub 61
Rosyside Dace 61
Longnose Dace 36
Central Stoneroller 11
White Sucker 10
Redbreast Sunfish 7
American Eel 4
Cyprinid Hybrid 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Creeping Charlie
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Norway Maple
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
DIAMESA Bloodworm 28
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 20
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 14
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
GLOSSOSOMA Little Black Caddisfly 7
SIMULIUM Black Fly 6
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 5
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 4
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 3
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 3
STENELMIS Beetle 3
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 1
PROSTOMA Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
NEMATODA Nematode 1
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
FERRISSIA Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 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.