MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-107-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-107-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-107-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT 4 in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/3/2002 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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 320 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 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 71 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.47
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		554.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 355
Rosyside Dace 135
Tessellated Darter 24
American Eel 7
Bluegill 7
Longnose Dace 6
White Sucker 6
Creek Chub 4
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 9
Simulium Black Fly 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Endochironomus 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 4
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Dixella 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella 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.