MBSS Site Summary for: PAXL-294-S-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-730 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-731 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-864 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-865 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-866 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-294-S-2003-867 (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 3/31/2003 and again in the summer on 7/1/2003.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 27 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 56 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.46
Conductivity 104 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		87.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Rosyside Dace 17
Eastern Mudminnow 2
American Eel 1
Creek Chubsucker 1
Golden Shiner 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Cricket Frog
Eastern Wormsnake
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 41
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 23
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 4
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 2
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Ostrocerca Stonefly 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.