MBSS Site Summary for: SEVE-121-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-121-R-2017-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-121-R-2017-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Deep Ditch Branch in the Severn River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131002.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2017 and again in the summer on 6/7/2017.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 90 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 44.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 55.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 3/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 6 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 69 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 90 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 90%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.4
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		332.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.5173 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
DIPLOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 17
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 17
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 14
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 14
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 13
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 11
ZAVRELIMYIA Non-Biting Midges 6
TIPULA Crane Fly 4
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 3
SCIRTIDAE Marsh Beetle 3
SYNURELLA Amphipod 2
NEOPOROUS Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
LYPE Net Tube Caddisfly 1
ERIOPTERA Cranefly 1
ORMOSIA Cranefly 1
TIPULIDAE Cranefly 1
PYCNOPSYCHE Great Autumn Brown Sedge 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.