MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-120-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-120-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-120-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-120-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-120-R-2003-4 (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 6/26/2003.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,780 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 9 %
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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.05
Conductivity 92 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		230 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9 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
Creek Chub 62
Blacknose Dace 61
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 43
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 28
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 14
Caecidotea Isopod 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 3
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Corynoneura 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.