MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-069-229-97


Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/1997 and again in the summer on 7/30/1997.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,236 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 0.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 59.4 %
Forested Land Use 39.3 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.32
Conductivity 150 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		585.5 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 217
Tessellated Darter 143
Longnose Dace 138
Rosyside Dace 136
White Sucker 100
Creek Chub 91
Swallowtail Shiner 40
Fallfish 24
Cutlip Minnow 8
American Eel 7
Largemouth Bass 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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 21
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 9
Serratella Mayfly 8
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Anchytarsus Beetle 2
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 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.