MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-310-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-310-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-310-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R 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 7/15/2002.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,533 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 18 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 64 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.52
Conductivity 230 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		624 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 121
Longnose Dace 46
White Sucker 39
Redbreast Sunfish 38
Fallfish 34
Rock Bass 20
American Eel 18
Pumpkinseed 13
Bluegill 10
Cutlip Minnow 7
Margined Madtom 7
Blacknose Dace 6
Smallmouth Bass 6
Northern Hogsucker 5
Rosyside Dace 4
Largemouth Bass 3
River Chub 2
Common Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 38
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 13
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Corbicula Basket Clam 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Synorthocladius 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura 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.