MBSS Site Summary for: MO-P-182-325-97


Located on CABIN JOHN CR in the Cabin John Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140207.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/1997 and again in the summer on 6/10/1997.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 8,612 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 47.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 12.9 %
Forested Land Use 39.5 %


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 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.65
Conductivity 235 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1083 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 159
Bluntnose Minnow 78
Silverjaw Minnow 35
Redbreast Sunfish 33
Creek Chub 27
Longnose Dace 21
Central Stoneroller 18
White Sucker 11
American Eel 8
Tessellated Darter 8
Common Shiner 7
Rosyside Dace 4
Bluegill 3
Cutlip Minnow 1
Potomac Sculpin 1
Smallmouth Bass 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 34
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Naididae Aquatic Worm 12
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 10
Diamesa Bloodworm 6
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic 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.