MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-287-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-287-X-2012_Mid-point_Downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-287-X-2012_Mid-point_Upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on RED HILL BRANCH in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2012 and again in the summer on 6/25/2012.

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 - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 493 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 74 %
Agricultural Land Use 4.3 %
Forested Land Use 20 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 5/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 30 %
Embeddedness 80 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 80%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 77
Green Sunfish 60
Longnose Dace 36
Creek Chub 27
Tessellated Darter 16
Rosyside Dace 12
Swallowtail Shiner 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Callery Pear
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 73
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 7
Hydrobaenus Midge 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Sympotthastia 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.