MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-028-301-97


Located on BEAVERDAM CR in the Anacostia River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140205.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/1997 and again in the summer on 6/18/1997.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,188 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 15.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.4 %
Forested Land Use 63.5 %


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 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 65 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 65%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.69
Conductivity 143 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		209 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 33
Blacknose Dace 12
Tessellated Darter 10
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Sea Lamprey 8
Fallfish 3
Redfin Pickerel 3
White Sucker 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Longnose Dace 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 16
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 2
Saetheria 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 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.