MBSS Site Summary for: NCRW-309-N-2004


Located on MUDDY BR in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/27/2004 and again in the summer on 8/17/2004.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 12,018 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 43 %
Agricultural Land Use 35 %
Forested Land Use 20 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 51 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 82 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.59
Conductivity 264 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		857.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.7 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 22 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Central Stoneroller 120
Fantail Darter 111
Potomac Sculpin 88
Bluntnose Minnow 87
Longnose Dace 77
Blacknose Dace 44
Bluegill 29
White Sucker 28
Greenside Darter 18
Blue Ridge Sculpin 17
Tessellated Darter 12
Yellow Bullhead 5
Green Sunfish 4
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Golden Redhorse 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Channel Catfish 2
Margined Madtom 2
American Eel 1
Creek Chub 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Spotfin Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 27
Simulium Black Fly 12
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 11
Naididae Aquatic Worm 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 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.