MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-288-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-288-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-288-X-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on RED HILL BRANCH UT in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2014 and again in the summer on 6/17/2014.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 62 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 82.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 17.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 49 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.42
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1920.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7376 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 199
Mummichog 21
Creek Chub 13
Longnose Dace 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 35
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 30
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 23
Fossaria Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 12
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Simulium Black Fly 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
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.