MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-115-R-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-115-R-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-115-R-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Israel Creek in the Potomac River FR Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/18/2007 and again in the summer on 7/24/2007.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,408 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 38.8 %
Forested Land Use 54.7 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 91 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.53
Conductivity 176 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		581.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8988 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
Blacknose Dace 642
White Sucker 195
Rosyside Dace 148
Fantail Darter 124
River Chub 90
Creek Chub 79
Bluntnose Minnow 29
Central Stoneroller 13
Redbreast Sunfish 12
Longnose Dace 8
Silverjaw Minnow 3
Northern Hogsucker 2
Largemouth Bass 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 21
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Simulium Black Fly 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 6
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Psephenus Water Penny 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 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.