MBSS Site Summary for: SEVE-203-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-203-R-2003-0823 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-203-R-2003-0824 (Opens in a new window)

Located on JABEZ BR in the Severn River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131002.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2003 and again in the summer on 6/11/2003.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 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 3,371 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 26 %
Agricultural Land Use 25 %
Forested Land Use 49 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 19 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 73 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.66
Conductivity 175 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		179 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.9 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 78
American Eel 19
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Tessellated Darter 3
Redfin Pickerel 2
Bluegill 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 16
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 13
Robackia European Non-Biting Midge 8
Stegopterna Black Fly 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Helichus Beetle 4
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Tipula Crane Fly 3
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 2
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Limonia 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Agabus Predatory Aquatic Beetle 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 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.