MBSS Site Summary for: PRAL-103-R-2015


Located on POTOMAC RIVER UT in the Potomac River AL Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140508.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2015 and again in the summer on 6/1/2015.

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 Poor - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 161 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 100 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 23 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 58 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.48
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		79.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.956 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Dusky Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 16
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 14
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 10
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 7
Stegopterna Black Fly 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 6
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 6
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 3
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Erioptera Cranefly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 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.