MBSS Site Summary for: NANJ-331-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-331-S-2016-MidpointPDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANJ-331-S-2016-MidpointPUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Mill Run in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140110.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2016 and again in the summer on 6/15/2016.

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 6,272 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 8.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.5 %
Forested Land Use 77 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 29 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 45 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.91
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		138.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.9434 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 14
Tessellated Darter 10
Blacknose Dace 9
Eastern Mudminnow 9
White Sucker 9
Bluegill 5
Green Sunfish 5
Sea Lamprey 5
Creek Chubsucker 4
Golden Shiner 4
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Spottail Shiner 4
Yellow Bullhead 3
Creek Chub 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 41
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 13
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 11
Simulium Black Fly 6
Caecidotea Isopod 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 4
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Perlesta 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoia Spring 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.