MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-127-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-127-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-127-R-2014-2 (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 3/5/2014 and again in the summer on 6/24/2014.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 689 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 57.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 5 %
Forested Land Use 36.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 18 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 93 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.93
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1794.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.889 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 381
Creek Chub 19
Longnose Dace 2
Brown Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 43
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 21
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 4
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 2
Limonia 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 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.