MBSS Site Summary for: PAXL-294-S-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2001-87 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2001-88 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SWANSON CR in the Patuxent River lower watershed, 8-digit code: 02131101.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2001 and again in the summer on 6/19/2001.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 3,717 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 30.9 %
Forested Land Use 62.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 25 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.94
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		166.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 97
Tessellated Darter 30
Rosyside Dace 25
Eastern Mudminnow 15
Pumpkinseed 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Fallfish 2
Golden Shiner 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 77
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 13
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 9
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 7
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 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.