MBSS Site Summary for: NANJ-206-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-206-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-206-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BEAVERDAM CR in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140110.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2000 and again in the summer on 6/20/2000.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,654 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 10.7 %
Forested Land Use 85.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 3 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 75 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 75%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.5 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.5 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.3
Conductivity 60 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		18 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.9 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 37
Golden Shiner 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 45
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 19
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 8
Corixidae Water Boatman 8
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 6
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 4
Hydroporus Water Beetle 4
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 4
Crangonyx Amphipod 4
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 2
Larsia Non-Biting Midge 2
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Unniella Non-Biting Midge 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 1
Orthocladius 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.