MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-207-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-207-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-207-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SOUTH BR PATAPSCO R UT4 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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,393 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 0.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 80.5 %
Forested Land Use 19.5 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 22 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 43 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 17.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.16
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
248.7 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 436
Blue Ridge Sculpin 383
Rosyside Dace 115
Central Stoneroller 82
White Sucker 76
Creek Chub 15
Longnose Dace 12
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 55
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 18
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 8
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.