MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-301-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-301-N-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-301-N-2003-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-301-N-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-301-N-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on EVITTS CR in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/17/2003 and again in the summer on 8/5/2003.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 60,032 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 8 %
Agricultural Land Use 14 %
Forested Land Use 77 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.33
Conductivity 297 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1248 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.4 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 27 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 285
Spottail Shiner 276
Central Stoneroller 237
Common Shiner 81
Longnose Dace 64
Fantail Darter 49
Rosyface Shiner 43
Greenside Darter 37
Blue Ridge Sculpin 34
Green Sunfish 29
Potomac Sculpin 28
Fallfish 24
Northern Hogsucker 20
Rock Bass 17
Tessellated Darter 17
White Sucker 17
Golden Redhorse 16
Pumpkinseed 14
River Chub 10
Bluegill 9
Smallmouth Bass 8
Blacknose Dace 6
Redbreast Sunfish 5
Creek Chub 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Rainbow Darter 2
Spotfin Shiner 1
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
Simulium Black Fly 20
Caecidotea Isopod 9
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Caenis Mayfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Psephenus Water Penny 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Dasyhelea 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Stylogomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Hemerodromia Tiny 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.