MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-108-313-95


Located on PATAPSCO R in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/1995 and again in the summer on 7/25/1995.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 22,810 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 2.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 71.3 %
Forested Land Use 25.8 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 24.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.38
Conductivity 188 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		574.1 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 972
Central Stoneroller 340
Common Shiner 193
White Sucker 179
Longnose Dace 132
Rosyside Dace 122
Cutlip Minnow 31
Tessellated Darter 28
Northern Hogsucker 26
River Chub 14
Rock Bass 11
Creek Chub 7
Satinfin Shiner 2
Brown Trout 1
Green Sunfish 1
Rosyface Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
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 32
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 25
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 23
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 11
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 8
Diamesa Bloodworm 7
Simulium Black Fly 6
Antocha Crane Fly 5
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 5
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Turbellaria Flatworm 1
Hirudinea Leech 1
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.