MBSS Site Summary for: SEVE-302-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-302-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SEVE-302-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SEVERN RUN in the Severn River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131002.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/2008 and again in the summer on 6/26/2008.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 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 4,471 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 58.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.4 %
Forested Land Use 30.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 68 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.16
Conductivity 329 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		581.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6264 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 69
Tessellated Darter 51
White Sucker 36
Eastern Mosquitofish 28
Bluegill 20
Swallowtail Shiner 19
American Eel 18
Pumpkinseed 11
Spottail Shiner 7
Eastern Mudminnow 5
Golden Shiner 5
Brown Bullhead 2
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyx Amphipod 47
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 12
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 9
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 7
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 3
Limnodrilus Worm 3
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus 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.