MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-114-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-114-N-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-114-N-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-114-N-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-114-N-2003-4 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT POTOMAC RIVER in the Potomac River WA Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140501.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/17/2003 and again in the summer on 7/14/2003.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 382 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 2 %
Forested Land Use 95 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 21 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.3 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.3 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 7
Conductivity 67 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		113.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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
No Fish Observed 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

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
Epeorus Mayfly 27
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 13
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 12
Lumbriculidae Worm 11
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 10
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 8
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 7
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 7
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Alloperla Stonefly 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Phagocata 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.