MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-115-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-115-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-115-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-115-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on POTOMAC R UT14 in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2003 and again in the summer on 8/7/2003.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 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 846 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 96 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 29 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 87 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		125.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 29
Creek Chub 18
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Seal Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 26
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 18
Prosimulium Black Fly 17
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Epeorus Mayfly 7
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 7
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 3
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Sweltsa Stonefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Yugus 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge 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.