MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-195-130-97


Located on PLUMTREE BR UT1 in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/1997 and again in the summer on 7/2/1997.

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 Poor - 1.0 / 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 101 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 54.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 15.4 %
Forested Land Use 29.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 3/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		2/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality 6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 47 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.98
Conductivity 216 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		816.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.8 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 11
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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 18
Stegopterna Black Fly 10
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 10
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 9
Tipula Crane Fly 7
Stygobromus Amphipod 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Collembola Springtail 1
Rheotanytarsus 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.