MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-329-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SBPA-329-R-2000-01 (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 3/6/2000 and again in the summer on 8/14/2000.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 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 12,122 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 0.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 72.9 %
Forested Land Use 25.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 61 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.56
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		333.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 860
Central Stoneroller 238
Blacknose Dace 236
Longnose Dace 231
White Sucker 144
Rosyside Dace 137
Common Shiner 132
Cutlip Minnow 106
Tessellated Darter 50
River Chub 21
Brown Trout 18
Creek Chub 15
Bluegill 4
Green Sunfish 4
Largemouth Bass 3
Rock Bass 3
Lepomis Hybrid 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Long-Tailed Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

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
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 26
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 15
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 12
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 11
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 10
Prosimulium Black Fly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker 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.