MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-113-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-113-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-113-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT1 North Branch Potomac River in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/2017 and again in the summer on 6/6/2017.

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 - 2.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 608 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.59
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		374.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8009 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 54
Brook Trout 8
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Pickerel Frog
Red-Spotted Newt

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 31
EPEORUS Mayfly 20
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 18
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 8
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 7
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 7
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 4
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 3
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 3
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 2
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
ACRONEURIA Golden Stoneflies 2
TAENIOPTERYX Winter Stonefly 1
TALLAPERLA Roach-Like Stonefly 1
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
WORMALDIA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
CERATOPOGON Biting Midge 1
PROBEZZIA Biting Midges 1
LYPE Net Tube Caddisfly 1
RHYACOPHILA Free-Living Caddisfly 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.