MBSS Site Summary for: PAXM-109-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-109-R-2001-141 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-109-R-2001-142 (Opens in a new window)

Located on DISTRICT BR 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 7/23/2001.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,308 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 36 %
Forested Land Use 58 %


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 = 35 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.92
Conductivity 240 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		265.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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
Least Brook Lamprey 22
Tessellated Darter 20
American Eel 19
Blacknose Dace 18
Green Sunfish 16
Redfin Pickerel 14
Eastern Mudminnow 10
Fallfish 10
White Sucker 6
Pumpkinseed 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Satinfin Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 23
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 18
Gammarus Amphipod 10
Neophylax Caddisfly 9
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Curculionidae Weevil 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Rheosmittia 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.