MBSS Site Summary for: PAXU-118-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXU-118-R-2004-42 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXU-118-R-2004-43 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXU-118-R-2004-44 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PATUXENT R UT 9 in the Patuxent River upper watershed, 8-digit code: 02131104.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2004 and again in the summer on 6/10/2004.

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 Poor - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 304 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 34 %
Forested Land Use 59 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 94 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 4.89
Conductivity 51 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-23 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 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 28
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 69
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 22
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 5
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Sialis Alderfly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Tvetenia 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.