MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-122-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-122-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-122-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT2 North Branch Potomac River in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/13/2017 and again in the summer on 6/7/2017.

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 N R
Benthic IBI Good - 4.5 / 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 No data available 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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 33 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 56 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.04
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		104.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9794 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
No Fish Observed 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Seal Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 37
EPEORUS Mayfly 31
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 13
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 8
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 7
GAMMARUS Amphipod 3
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
DRUNELLA Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
WORMALDIA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
RHYACOPHILA Free-Living Caddisfly 1
PTERONARCYS Giant Stonefly 1
ACRONEURIA Golden Stoneflies 1
CERATOPOGON Biting Midge 1
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 1
GLOSSOSOMATIDAE Saddlecase Maker Caddisfly 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
ISOPERLA Stripetail Stonefly 1
ECTOPRIA Water Penny Beetle 1
PELTOPERLA 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.