MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-288-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-288-X-2015_Midpoint-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 4/27/2015 and again in the summer on 7/7/2015.

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 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 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 14 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 61 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 75 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 75%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.94
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1598.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5098 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 266
Blue Ridge Sculpin 244
Tessellated Darter 38
Rosyside Dace 36
Longnose Dace 23
White Sucker 10
Creek Chub 7
Northern Hogsucker 7
Swallowtail Shiner 6
Central Stoneroller 5
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 66
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 13
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 4
Empididae Dance Fly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 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.