MBSS Site Summary for: MO-P-481-101-97


Located on POTOMAC R UT6 in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/1997 and again in the summer on 6/5/1997.

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 - 2.0 / 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 183 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 0.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 76.8 %
Forested Land Use 20.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.2
Conductivity 390 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
1687 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 20.6 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 77
Pumpkinseed 13
Creek Chub 6
Bluntnose Minnow 3
Green Sunfish 2
Satinfin Shiner 2
Bluegill 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 22
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 20
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 14
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 5
Simulium Black Fly 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Thienemannimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Anchytarsus Beetle 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Nematomorpha Horsehair Worm 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 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.