MBSS Site Summary for: PAXM-121-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-121-R-2001-145 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-121-R-2001-146 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINDELL 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 7/11/2001.

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 - 3.0 / 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 433 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 35 %
Forested Land Use 65 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 5.11
Conductivity 50 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-4.5 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 39
Least Brook Lamprey 7
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 28
Crangonyx Amphipod 25
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 10
Bittacomorpha 6
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 2
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Limnophila 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 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.