MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-290-X-2013


Located on RED HILL BRANCH in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2013 and again in the summer on 7/24/2013.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 1,339 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 73.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 5.5 %
Forested Land Use 17.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 27 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.06
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1469.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.3377 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 60
Swallowtail Shiner 57
Eastern Mosquitofish 46
Creek Chub 41
Green Sunfish 31
Tessellated Darter 26
Longnose Dace 19
Bluegill 16
Rosyside Dace 13
Largemouth Bass 8
Yellow Bullhead 6
Redbreast Sunfish 2
White Sucker 2
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 51
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 3
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Fossaria Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
ENCHYTRAEIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 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.