MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-206-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-206-N-2003-822 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-206-N-2003-823 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-206-N-2003-824 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MUDDY BR in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/15/2003 and again in the summer on 7/30/2003.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 12,524 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 42 %
Agricultural Land Use 36 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 20 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 94 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.73
Conductivity 271 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		961.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2 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 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 126
Central Stoneroller 45
Redbreast Sunfish 28
Spotfin Shiner 23
Potomac Sculpin 20
Green Sunfish 15
Yellow Bullhead 11
Longnose Dace 9
Swallowtail Shiner 8
Silverjaw Minnow 5
Bluegill 4
White Sucker 4
Tessellated Darter 3
Blacknose Dace 2
Fantail Darter 2
Longear Sunfish 2
Margined Madtom 2
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Channel Catfish 1
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyx Amphipod 31
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 30
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 7
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 4
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Collembola Springtail 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus 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.