MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-205-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-205-X-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-205-X-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on TIBER RUN 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 6/8/2012.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,440 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 60.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 3.9 %
Forested Land Use 34.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 62 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.1
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2573.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5032 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 22
Blue Ridge Sculpin 20
Longnose Dace 16
Redbreast Sunfish 9
Blacknose Dace 8
Common Shiner 5
Northern Hogsucker 5
White Sucker 3
Creek Chub 2
Swallowtail Shiner 2
Central Stoneroller 1
Green Sunfish 1
Pumpkinseed 1
River Chub 1
Rock Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Norway Maple
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 59
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 14
Diamesa Bloodworm 13
Orthocladiinae Midge 10
Gammarus Amphipod 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge 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.