MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-510-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2012-2 (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 3/27/2012 and again in the summer on 7/31/2012.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 177,785 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 16.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 41.8 %
Forested Land Use 37.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 30 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.92
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		821 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8173 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 26 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 403
Swallowtail Shiner 247
Redbreast Sunfish 176
Spotfin Shiner 120
Northern Hogsucker 78
Cutlip Minnow 62
Spottail Shiner 57
Tessellated Darter 56
Banded Killifish 55
White Sucker 46
Smallmouth Bass 35
American Eel 31
Satinfin Shiner 27
Margined Madtom 26
Longnose Dace 18
River Chub 17
Rock Bass 13
Central Stoneroller 8
Pumpkinseed 8
Common Shiner 7
Blue Ridge Sculpin 6
Bluegill 4
Yellow Bullhead 4
Green Sunfish 3
Rosyface Shiner 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 24
Simulium Black Fly 18
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 11
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Perlesta 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI 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.