MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-288-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2012_Mid-point_Downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2012_Mid-point_Upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on DEEP RUN in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2012 and again in the summer on 6/26/2012.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 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 1,164 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 67.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 14.5 %
Forested Land Use 16.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:

No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 76
Creek Chub 25
Rosyside Dace 21
Longnose Dace 9
Blue Ridge Sculpin 8
Bluegill 3
Central Stoneroller 2
American Eel 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Tessellated Darter 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 38
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 26
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 18
Orthocladiinae Midge 10
Simulium Black Fly 8
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 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.