MBSS Site Summary for: CR-P-281-127-95


Located on PATAPSCO R UT2 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/31/1995 and again in the summer on 7/17/1995.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 722 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 7.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.9 %
Forested Land Use 23.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 28.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.47
Conductivity 206 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		598.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 260
Blacknose Dace 131
Longnose Dace 39
Rosyside Dace 20
Pumpkinseed 18
White Sucker 17
Tessellated Darter 15
Common Shiner 8
Creek Chub 8
Central Stoneroller 5
Golden Shiner 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Naididae Aquatic Worm 47
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 40
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 19
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 17
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 16
Stenelmis Beetle 14
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Hexatoma Crane Fly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 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.