MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-510-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-510-X-2014-2 (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 3/20/2014 and again in the summer on 8/21/2014.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 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 18.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 40.2 %
Forested Land Use 37.2 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 66 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 99 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 35 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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
Spottail Shiner 579
Bluntnose Minnow 384
River Chub 214
Swallowtail Shiner 141
Spotfin Shiner 115
Redbreast Sunfish 102
American Eel 72
Satinfin Shiner 71
Common Shiner 64
Rosyface Shiner 60
Northern Hogsucker 50
Smallmouth Bass 29
Tessellated Darter 28
Longnose Dace 27
Margined Madtom 27
Cutlip Minnow 26
Blue Ridge Sculpin 19
White Sucker 12
Bluegill 9
Rock Bass 6
Banded Killifish 5
Central Stoneroller 5
Fallfish 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 39
Gammarus Amphipod 24
Orthocladiinae Midge 9
Hydrobaenus Midge 7
Corbicula Basket Clam 5
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Teloganopsis Mayfly 1
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Synorthocladius 1
Microtendipes 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.