MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-117-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-117-R-2015_midpoint-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-117-R-2015_midpoint-looking-uostream (Opens in a new window)

Located on WEST BRANCH PATAPSCO RIVER UT in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2015 and again in the summer on 6/3/2015.

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 - 1.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 502 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 83.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 16.1 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 56 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.82
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2169.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.497 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 191
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Ground Ivy
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Norway Maple
Porcelainberry
Vinca Vine
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 48
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 18
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Tipula Crane Fly 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Psephenus Water Penny 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Lymnaeidae Pond Snail 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.