MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-209-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-209-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-209-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (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 4/13/2016 and again in the summer on 6/20/2016.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,994 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 35 %
Forested Land Use 57.9 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.94
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		826.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5939 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 190
Fantail Darter 40
River Chub 38
Longnose Dace 21
Rosyside Dace 17
Creek Chub 5
White Sucker 4
Central Stoneroller 3
Bluegill 2
Bluntnose Minnow 2
Rainbow Darter 2
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 26
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 13
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 5
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 4
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 4
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Perlidae Common Stonefly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Empididae Dance Fly 2
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Krenosmittia 1
Neoplasta 1
Sublettea 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 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.