MBSS Site Summary for: PAXM-107-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-107-R-2001-143 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-107-R-2001-144 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATUXENT R UT7 in the Patuxent River middle watershed, 8-digit code: 02131102.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/27/2001 and again in the summer on 6/5/2001.

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 Poor - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 332 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 24 %
Agricultural Land Use 28 %
Forested Land Use 48 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 55 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 55%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.15
Conductivity 280 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		99.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 29
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 43
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 12
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 11
Tipula Crane Fly 8
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Lumbriculidae Worm 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Prodiamesa 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 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.