MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-108-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-108-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-108-R-2003-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-108-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-108-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BRICE HOLLOW RUN in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2003 and again in the summer on 7/7/2003.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 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 2,277 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 8 %
Forested Land Use 87 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters
8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 18.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.31
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
367.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 432
Blue Ridge Sculpin 228
Creek Chub 23
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambaridae
Cambarus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 30
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Diamesa Bloodworm 9
Crangonyx Amphipod 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 7
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 7
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Endochironomus 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 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.