MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2003-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2003-5 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL RUN 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 7/17/2003.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 484 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.5 %
Forested Land Use 64.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 24 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 59 meters
16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.59
Conductivity 119 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
446.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 108
Blue Ridge Sculpin 40
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

Cambarus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 16
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Epeorus Mayfly 9
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 6
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 5
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 4
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 4
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenacron Mayfly 3
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Plecoptera Stonefly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn 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.