MBSS Site Summary for: SBPA-296-E-2004


Located on SOUTH BR PATAPSCO R in the S Branch Patapsco watershed, 8-digit code: 02130908.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/22/2004 and again in the summer on 9/14/2004.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,751 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 15 %
Agricultural Land Use 56 %
Forested Land Use 26 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 69 %
Embeddedness 27 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 9.17
Conductivity 402 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		799.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 841
Blacknose Dace 423
White Sucker 217
Central Stoneroller 164
Longnose Dace 118
Rosyside Dace 104
Cutlip Minnow 31
Northern Hogsucker 25
Creek Chub 23
Swallowtail Shiner 23
Common Shiner 17
Tessellated Darter 17
Bluegill 12
Pumpkinseed 4
Green Sunfish 3
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Fathead Minnow 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 55
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 5
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 5
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia 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.