MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-288-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2014-2 (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 3/6/2014 and again in the summer on 6/13/2014.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.0 / 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 72.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.2 %
Forested Land Use 14.8 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters
7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.77
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
1342 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6673 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 277
Blue Ridge Sculpin 166
Creek Chub 46
Tessellated Darter 25
Longnose Dace 21
Central Stoneroller 16
Cutlip Minnow 3
Rosyside Dace 3
Swallowtail Shiner 3
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 47
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 20
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 8
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 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.