MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-510-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2011-2 (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 3/29/2011 and again in the summer on 7/13/2011.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 177,739 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 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 61.4 %
Forested Land Use 30 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 24 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.83
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		747.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5308 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 25 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redbreast Sunfish 204
Bluntnose Minnow 128
River Chub 107
Swallowtail Shiner 100
Spotfin Shiner 86
Northern Hogsucker 72
Tessellated Darter 52
American Eel 48
Spottail Shiner 43
Cutlip Minnow 42
Common Shiner 28
Margined Madtom 27
Blue Ridge Sculpin 25
Smallmouth Bass 23
Yellow Bullhead 18
Rosyface Shiner 16
Pumpkinseed 15
Satinfin Shiner 11
Banded Killifish 9
Longnose Dace 7
Rock Bass 5
White Sucker 3
Central Stoneroller 2
Green Sunfish 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 24
Gammarus Amphipod 19
Orthocladiinae Midge 10
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 9
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 6
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 6
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 5
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
GOMPHIDAE Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Caenis Mayfly 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.