MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-105-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-105-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-105-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATAPSCO RIVER UT in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2014 and again in the summer on 6/9/2014.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 313 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 91.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 8.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 66 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 9 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.59
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1866.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6339 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 102
Creek Chub 22
Tessellated Darter 19
American Eel 5
Black Crappie 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lesser Celandine (Fig Buttercup)
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Porcelainberry
Tree Of Heaven
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 74
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 52
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cura Flatworm 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum 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.