MBSS Site Summary for: NCRW-107-N-2004


Located on ISRAEL CREEK in the Potomac River FR Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/16/2004 and again in the summer on 8/25/2004.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 8,324 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 7 %
Agricultural Land Use 34 %
Forested Land Use 59 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 46 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.85
Conductivity 199 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		562.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 87
Blacknose Dace 25
River Chub 19
Fantail Darter 17
Central Stoneroller 11
Greenside Darter 5
Rainbow Darter 5
Spotfin Shiner 2
White Sucker 2
Northern Hogsucker 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 46
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Hydrobaenus Midge 10
Neophylax Caddisfly 9
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 9
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 5
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura 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.