MBSS Site Summary for: AA-N-321-117-97


Located on LITTLE PATUXENT R UT1 in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/1997 and again in the summer on 6/18/1997.

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 - 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 1,133 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 37.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.8 %
Forested Land Use 32 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.69
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		485.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.7 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
Green Sunfish 30
American Eel 9
Bluegill 6
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Blacknose Dace 2
Brown Bullhead 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 16
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 16
Stegopterna Black Fly 13
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 8
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 7
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 7
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Limnodrilus Worm 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.