MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-106-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-106-X-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-106-X-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SUCKER BRANCH in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/27/2012 and again in the summer on 6/20/2012.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,844 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 68.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 0.6 %
Forested Land Use 28.5 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 39 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.12
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1999.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1084 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
Longnose Dace 51
Bluegill 42
Creek Chub 27
Blacknose Dace 22
Green Sunfish 22
American Eel 16
White Sucker 8
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Blue Ridge Sculpin 2
Central Stoneroller 1
Cutlip Minnow 1
Pumpkinseed 1
River Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 57
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 18
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 11
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 9
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 8
Simulium Black Fly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 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.