MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-298-A-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-298-A-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-298-A-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Gillis Falls in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/18/2007 and again in the summer on 6/27/2007.

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.
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Catchment area 3,052 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 2.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 82.1 %
Forested Land Use 15.1 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 19 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.21
Conductivity 164 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		271.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0406 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 367
Blacknose Dace 178
Rosyside Dace 177
White Sucker 48
Creek Chub 44
Tessellated Darter 36
Longnose Dace 18
Cutlip Minnow 12
Brown Trout 10
Central Stoneroller 2
American Eel 1
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Box Turtle
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 18
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 16
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Anchytarsus Beetle 8
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Simulium Black Fly 6
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 6
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Gomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.