MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-115-204-96


Located on SOUTH BR PATAPSCO UT2 in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/1996 and again in the summer on 7/10/1996.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,450 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 2.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 81.7 %
Forested Land Use 15.8 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.91
Conductivity 149 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		284.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.5 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 275
Blacknose Dace 52
Tessellated Darter 49
White Sucker 43
Longnose Dace 26
Rosyside Dace 19
Cutlip Minnow 9
Bluegill 7
Creek Chub 3
Central Stoneroller 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 46
Prosimulium Black Fly 10
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Anchytarsus Beetle 3
Ephemera Mayfly 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hexatoma 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.