MBSS Site Summary for: NANJ-301-H-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-301-H-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-301-H-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NANJEMOY CREEK in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140110.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2012 and again in the summer on 6/19/2012.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,417 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 2.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 13.5 %
Forested Land Use 82.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 72 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 17 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.72
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		213.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.0641 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redbreast Sunfish 34
American Eel 16
Brown Bullhead 13
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Margined Madtom 8
Tessellated Darter 8
Pumpkinseed 4
Creek Chubsucker 2
Golden Shiner 2
Sea Lamprey 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Upland Chorus Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 23
Simulium Black Fly 21
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 19
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Gammarus Amphipod 1
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
VIVIPARIDAE Mystery Snail 1
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 1
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
BAETIDAE Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 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.