MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2009-2 (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 4/28/2009 and again in the summer on 7/2/2009.

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.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)

Catchment area 470 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 2 %
Forested Land Use 63.6 %


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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.76
Conductivity 117 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
593.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8884 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 42
Blue Ridge Sculpin 16
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Red-Spotted Newt
Seal Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 22
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Epeorus Mayfly 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 5
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 4
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 4
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Stempellina 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 3
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 3
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 2
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Eukiefferiella 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.