MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-288-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-288-X-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-288-X-2015_Midpoint-upstream (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 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 - 1.3 / 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 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 8 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 67 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.63
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2011.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2871 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 49
Creek Chub 6
Green Sunfish 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:
Canada Thistle
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 61
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Simulium Black Fly 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 3
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Glossosomatidae Saddlecase Maker Caddisfly 1
Microvelia Small Water Strider Beetle 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Fossaria Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 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.