MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-208-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-208-N-2003-829 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-208-N-2003-830 (Opens in a new window)

Located on ROCK RUN 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 8/6/2003.

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 - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,209 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 31 %
Agricultural Land Use 43 %
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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 13 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 72 meters
14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 20.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 9.32
Conductivity 222 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
904.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 88
Blacknose Dace 85
American Eel 38
Cutlip Minnow 28
Creek Chub 20
Fantail Darter 8
Rosyside Dace 4
Green Sunfish 3
White Sucker 3
Central Stoneroller 1
Greenside Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Diamesa Bloodworm 74
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 12
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphipoda Scud 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Trichoptera Caddisfly 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Simulium Black 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.