MBSS Site Summary for: PATL-511-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-511-X-2016_midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PATL-511-X-2016_midpoint looking upstream (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 3/9/2016 and again in the summer on 7/26/2016.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 166,012 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 18.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 41.2 %
Forested Land Use 36.4 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters
17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 50 %


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 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 142
Bluntnose Minnow 127
Redbreast Sunfish 86
Blue Ridge Sculpin 76
River Chub 71
Cutlip Minnow 60
Swallowtail Shiner 54
Tessellated Darter 25
Smallmouth Bass 20
Northern Hogsucker 18
Central Stoneroller 13
Rock Bass 11
Margined Madtom 10
White Sucker 8
Common Shiner 7
Longnose Dace 5
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 1
Spotfin Shiner 1
Yellow Bullhead 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
Hydrilla Verticillata
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 16
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 10
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 6
Gammarus Amphipod 4
Neoplasta 3
Neureclipsis 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Corydalus Dobsonfly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Protoptila 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 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.