MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-303-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-303-N-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-303-N-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-303-N-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-303-N-2003-5 (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 7/3/2003.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,886 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 11 %
Forested Land Use 85 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 22 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.61
Conductivity 191 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		508.6 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 25 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fantail Darter 169
Bluntnose Minnow 123
Blue Ridge Sculpin 121
Green Sunfish 51
Blacknose Dace 47
Potomac Sculpin 47
Pumpkinseed 46
Fallfish 32
Bluegill 31
Rock Bass 27
Central Stoneroller 19
Common Shiner 19
Creek Chub 19
Longnose Dace 12
Golden Shiner 11
Greenside Darter 11
Yellow Bullhead 8
Rainbow Darter 7
Smallmouth Bass 7
Golden Redhorse 6
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Largemouth Bass 2
White Sucker 2
Lepomis Hybrid 1
Margined Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 12
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 12
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 10
Stenelmis Beetle 9
Simulium Black Fly 6
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Serratella Mayfly 2
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Amphipoda Scud 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.