MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-058-125-97


Located on BENSON BR in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/1997 and again in the summer on 6/11/1997.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,041 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 1.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 56 %
Forested Land Use 41.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 17 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.36
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		430.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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
Rosyside Dace 82
Blacknose Dace 70
Tessellated Darter 33
Longnose Dace 25
Creek Chub 24
Fallfish 18
American Eel 14
Cutlip Minnow 12
Common Shiner 9
White Sucker 6
Bluegill 5
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 42
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 12
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Serratella Mayfly 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Sublettea 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane 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.