MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-116-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-116-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-116-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER UT in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2014 and again in the summer on 6/3/2014.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,198 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 72.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 1.1 %
Forested Land Use 24.6 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.92
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1660.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7722 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Swallowtail Shiner 106
Blacknose Dace 90
Rosyside Dace 44
Tessellated Darter 35
Creek Chub 18
White Sucker 16
Longnose Dace 14
Redbreast Sunfish 10
Green Sunfish 7
Fallfish 6
American Eel 4
Bluegill 3
Pumpkinseed 2
Golden Shiner 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Ratsnake
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Shrub Honeysuckle
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 31
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 29
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 20
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 16
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Endotribelos 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Glossosoma Little Black 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.