MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-294-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-294-X-2015_Midpoint-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-294-X-2015_Midpoint-looking-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 7/7/2015.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,144 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 74.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 4.7 %
Forested Land Use 17.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.64
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1609.98 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9427 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 72
Green Sunfish 51
Creek Chub 36
Longnose Dace 23
Rosyside Dace 20
Tessellated Darter 13
Swallowtail Shiner 7
Bluegill 5
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Fathead Minnow 1
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 44
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 7
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Naididae Aquatic Worm 5
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Simulium Black Fly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Enallagma Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini 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.