MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-411-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-411-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-411-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 4/3/2002 and again in the summer on 7/16/2002.

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 Good - 4.3 / 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 30,833 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 7 %
Agricultural Land Use 70 %
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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 52 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 76 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.2
Conductivity 240 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1050 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 742
Longnose Dace 355
Rosyside Dace 296
Common Shiner 245
Rosyface Shiner 224
River Chub 144
Fallfish 131
Swallowtail Shiner 93
Blacknose Dace 86
White Sucker 77
Cutlip Minnow 58
Satinfin Shiner 55
American Eel 43
Margined Madtom 32
Smallmouth Bass 25
Redbreast Sunfish 20
Rock Bass 6
Largemouth Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
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
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 41
Simulium Black Fly 17
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 11
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 6
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 2
Micrasema 2
Corbicula Basket Clam 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 2
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 2
Polycentropodidae Trupetnet And Tubemaking Caddisfly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Conchapelopia 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.