MBSS Site Summary for: COCA-308-N-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-308-N-2003-827 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site COCA-308-N-2003-828 (Opens in a new window)

Located on WATTS 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 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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 14,226 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 41 %
Agricultural Land Use 34 %
Forested Land Use 24 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 83 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.86
Conductivity 288 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1068 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 81
Spotfin Shiner 38
Potomac Sculpin 34
Silverjaw Minnow 33
Longnose Dace 29
Swallowtail Shiner 14
Central Stoneroller 13
Green Sunfish 12
Redbreast Sunfish 11
White Sucker 8
Fantail Darter 4
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Channel Catfish 1
Fallfish 1
Longear Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Wormsnake
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Spotted Salamander
Wood 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
Stenelmis Beetle 60
Hydrobaenus Midge 16
Diamesa Bloodworm 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 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.