MBSS Site Summary for: PAXL-230-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-230-R-2017-50MLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-230-R-2017-50MLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Battle Creek in the Patuxent River lower watershed, 8-digit code: 02131101.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2017 and again in the summer on 8/14/2017.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,611 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 19.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.9 %
Forested Land Use 58.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 58 %
Embeddedness 85 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 85%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.32
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		726.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.137 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 55
Eastern Mosquitofish 50
Blacknose Dace 12
Eastern Mudminnow 12
Creek Chubsucker 5
American Eel 4
Bluegill 4
Brown Bullhead 4
Yellow Bullhead 4
Pumpkinseed 2
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus sp.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
GAMMARUS Amphipod 24
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 17
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 11
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 9
SIMULIUM Black Fly 4
HEXATOMA Crane Fly 4
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 3
STENOCHIRONOMUS European Non-Biting Midge 3
DIPLOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 3
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 3
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 3
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 2
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 2
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 2
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 2
CRYPTOTENDIPES 2
DIXA 1
PROCAMBARUS 1
SAETHERIA 1
CERATOPOGON Biting Midge 1
CALOPTERYX Damselfly 1
OECETIS Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
SIPHLONURUS Gray Drake Mayfly 1
NANOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYPODINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
DYTISCIDAE Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 1
ISOPERLA Stripetail Stonefly 1
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 1
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 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.