MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-103-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-103-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-103-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT 2_UT in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/2002 and again in the summer on 6/25/2002.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 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 427 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 76 %
Forested Land Use 19 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 26 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.82
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		219 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 270
Rosyside Dace 62
Creek Chub 6
American Eel 4
White Sucker 4
Longnose Dace 3
Bluegill 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Ring-Necked Snake
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 26
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 11
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 10
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 10
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 8
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Erioptera Cranefly 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Diploperla 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 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.