MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-508-X-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-508-X-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-508-X-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Patapsco River in the Patapsco River L N Br watershed, 8-digit code: 02130906.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2010 and again in the summer on 8/20/2010.

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 N R

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 185,413 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 7 %
Agricultural Land Use 60 %
Forested Land Use 30.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 20 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 72 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		707.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.192 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 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
River Chub 89
American Eel 46
Redbreast Sunfish 35
Northern Hogsucker 30
Spotfin Shiner 25
Smallmouth Bass 22
Rock Bass 11
Longnose Dace 9
Rosyface Shiner 6
Tessellated Darter 6
Central Stoneroller 5
Cutlip Minnow 3
Satinfin Shiner 3
White Sucker 3
Pumpkinseed 2
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Bluegill 1
Common Shiner 1
Green Sunfish 1
Margined Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Benthic data unavailable.
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.