MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-241-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-241-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-241-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 3/8/2016 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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,263 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 36 %
Forested Land Use 57.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.81
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		667.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3672 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
Blacknose Dace 356
Fantail Darter 114
Rosyside Dace 76
River Chub 29
Common Shiner 28
Bluntnose Minnow 27
White Sucker 22
Creek Chub 11
Longnose Dace 10
Bluegill 9
Central Stoneroller 6
Northern Hogsucker 2
Rainbow Darter 2
Brown Trout 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 34
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 21
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Paragnetina 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Tropisternus Water Scavenger Beetle 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia 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.