MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-205-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-205-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-205-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT 2 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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,919 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 74 %
Forested Land Use 22 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 21 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.58
Conductivity 260 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		889.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.7 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 83
Bluegill 44
Longnose Dace 34
Fallfish 28
Pumpkinseed 28
Redbreast Sunfish 27
White Sucker 23
Blacknose Dace 11
Largemouth Bass 10
American Eel 9
Margined Madtom 9
Cutlip Minnow 8
Common Shiner 6
Rosyside Dace 3
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Ratsnake
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 75
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 25
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 16
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 11
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Simulium Black Fly 7
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 7
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini 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.