MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-218-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-218-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-218-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Ut to Potomac River in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/2016 and again in the summer on 7/7/2016.

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 - 1.5 / 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 915 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 1.2 %
Forested Land Use 97.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.52
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		348.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6736 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
Blacknose Dace 183
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Spring Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 40
Epeorus Mayfly 16
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Peltoperla 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker 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.