MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-302-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-302-N-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-302-N-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SEVEN SPRINGS RUN in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
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 - 5.0 / 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 12,579 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 12 %
Forested Land Use 84 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.09
Conductivity 246 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		566.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5 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 23 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 267
Blue Ridge Sculpin 240
Fantail Darter 172
Potomac Sculpin 114
Central Stoneroller 64
Rainbow Darter 55
Bluntnose Minnow 50
Bluegill 28
Longnose Dace 24
Greenside Darter 15
Rock Bass 14
Green Sunfish 8
Creek Chub 7
Common Shiner 5
Smallmouth Bass 5
Margined Madtom 4
Pumpkinseed 3
White Sucker 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Creek Chubsucker 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Spotfin Shiner 1
Tessellated Darter 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
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 15
Simulium Black Fly 11
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Stenelmis Beetle 9
Serratella Mayfly 6
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 5
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 5
Lumbriculidae Worm 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 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.