MBSS Site Summary for: CR-P-120-232-96


Located on PATAPSCO R in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/1996 and again in the summer on 7/23/1996.

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 Good - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 7,320 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 67.8 %
Forested Land Use 26.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.34
Conductivity 197 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		431.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 19 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 407
Central Stoneroller 210
Common Shiner 143
White Sucker 138
Blacknose Dace 83
Rosyside Dace 63
Cutlip Minnow 61
Longnose Dace 55
River Chub 22
Bluegill 12
Northern Hogsucker 7
Pumpkinseed 7
Creek Chub 4
Largemouth Bass 4
Tessellated Darter 4
Brown Trout 2
Cutthroat Trout 1
Rock Bass 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 56
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Oligochaeta Aquatic Worm 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Curculionidae Weevil 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.