MBSS Site Summary for: AA-N-307-218-97


Located on LITTLE PATUXENT R UT2 in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/1997 and again in the summer on 7/31/1997.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 378 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 22.4 %
Forested Land Use 73 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		5/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality 5/20 (Poor)
Shading 82 %
Embeddedness 45 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.3 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.3 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.27
Conductivity 476 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		206 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10.1 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 30
Redfin Pickerel 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 20
Lumbriculidae Worm 12
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 12
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 11
Hydrobaenus Midge 10
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 9
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 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.