MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-313-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-313-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-313-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 4/4/2002 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 - 3.0 / 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 14,298 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 77 %
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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.69
Conductivity 250 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		879.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 63
Pumpkinseed 51
Blacknose Dace 40
Longnose Dace 39
Rosyside Dace 37
Redbreast Sunfish 27
American Eel 20
Bluegill 17
Margined Madtom 8
Cutlip Minnow 7
Rock Bass 7
Creek Chub 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Smallmouth Bass 3
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 24
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Simuliidae Black Fly 5
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 5
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 5
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 4
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Synorthocladius 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia 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.