MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-098-320-97


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 6/16/1997.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 7,729 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 15.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 15.7 %
Forested Land Use 65.7 %


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 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 75 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 75%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.71
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		210.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 49
Tessellated Darter 47
Eastern Mudminnow 41
Swallowtail Shiner 22
Creek Chub 16
Pumpkinseed 12
White Sucker 10
Creek Chubsucker 9
Blacknose Dace 6
Fallfish 6
Sea Lamprey 6
Bluegill 2
Brown Bullhead 1
Cutlip Minnow 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 16
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Stegopterna Black Fly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 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.