MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-103-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-103-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-103-X-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on THISTLE RUN in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/16/2011 and again in the summer on 6/15/2011.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 702 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 47 %
Agricultural Land Use 15.8 %
Forested Land Use 37.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 32 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.775
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1206.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.67 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 200
Redbreast Sunfish 18
Creek Chub 17
White Sucker 17
Central Stoneroller 11
Cutlip Minnow 5
Swallowtail Shiner 4
American Eel 2
Blue Ridge Sculpin 2
Bluntnose Minnow 2
Longnose Dace 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Empress Tree
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Oriental Bittersweet
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 36
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 11
Diamesa Bloodworm 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
GOMPHIDAE Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Limonia 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.