MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-127-237-97


Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT3 in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/1997 and again in the summer on 6/23/1997.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,699 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 3.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 79.7 %
Forested Land Use 16.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.13
Conductivity 236 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		523.3 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
Longnose Dace 83
Tessellated Darter 67
Rosyside Dace 57
Blacknose Dace 37
Swallowtail Shiner 22
Cutlip Minnow 13
Creek Chub 10
American Eel 9
Common Shiner 9
Bluegill 5
Fallfish 5
White Sucker 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 62
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 10
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 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.