MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2005


Located on Mill Run in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/26/2005 and again in the summer on 9/8/2005.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.5 / 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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
Conductivity 214 µmho/cm

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 53
Blue Ridge Sculpin 24
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 23
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 16
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 14
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 12
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 7
Haploperla Green Stonefly 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Epeorus Mayfly 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Peltoperlidae Roachlike Stonefly 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.