MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-210-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-210-N-2003-825 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-210-N-2003-826 (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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 12,296 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.75
Conductivity 266 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		947.2 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 25 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 82
Spotfin Shiner 76
Central Stoneroller 37
Redbreast Sunfish 28
Longnose Dace 20
Fantail Darter 14
Yellow Bullhead 14
Potomac Sculpin 9
Blacknose Dace 5
Green Sunfish 5
Smallmouth Bass 5
Rock Bass 4
Longear Sunfish 3
White Sucker 3
Bluegill 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Rosyside Dace 2
Swallowtail Shiner 2
American Eel 1
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1
Creek Chub 1
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Margined Madtom 1
Spottail Shiner 1
Tessellated Darter 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:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyx Amphipod 26
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 13
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 12
Hydrobaenus Midge 10
Stenelmis Beetle 10
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Psephenus Water Penny 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Macromia 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius 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.