MBSS Site Summary for: PAXL-303-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-303-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXL-303-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HALL CR in the Patuxent River lower watershed, 8-digit code: 02131101.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/2004 and again in the summer on 7/26/2004.

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 - 4.3 / 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 9,060 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 11 %
Agricultural Land Use 40 %
Forested Land Use 49 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.08
Conductivity 217 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		416.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redfin Pickerel 25
Creek Chubsucker 17
Pumpkinseed 14
Eastern Mudminnow 9
Pirate Perch 6
Black Crappie 5
Bluegill 4
American Eel 2
Chain Pickerel 2
Golden Shiner 2
Tadpole Madtom 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Ratsnake
Northern Spring Peeper
Rough Greensnake
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 27
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 10
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 9
Gammarus Amphipod 6
Hydroporus Water Beetle 6
Corixidae Water Boatman 6
Lumbriculidae Worm 5
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 3
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Dromogomphus Spinylegs Dragonfly 1
Gyrinus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Leptoceridae Longhorned Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 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.