MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-287-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-287-X-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-287-X-2015_Midpoint-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 4/27/2015 and again in the summer on 6/3/2015.

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 - 2.0 / 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 79.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 1.7 %
Forested Land Use 16.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.47
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1476.97 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.4029 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 236
Green Sunfish 40
Creek Chub 29
Rosyside Dace 16
Swallowtail Shiner 13
Tessellated Darter 9
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Longnose Dace 3
Banded Killifish 2
White Sucker 2
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 25
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 23
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Naididae Aquatic Worm 17
Glossosomatidae Saddlecase Maker Caddisfly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Sublettea 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 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.