MBSS Site Summary for: HO-P-244-310-95


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 7/26/1995.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 22,225 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 71.6 %
Forested Land Use 25.6 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 18 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.54
Conductivity 184 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		473 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 1435
Central Stoneroller 1029
Common Shiner 608
Blacknose Dace 323
White Sucker 253
Longnose Dace 178
Rosyside Dace 112
Northern Hogsucker 88
Cutlip Minnow 62
Tessellated Darter 54
Rosyface Shiner 38
River Chub 31
Smallmouth Bass 5
Swallowtail Shiner 4
Creek Chub 3
Rock Bass 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake

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 96
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 4
Stygobromus Amphipod 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella 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.