MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2010-2 (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 4/22/2010 and again in the summer on 6/23/2010.

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 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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 14 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 70 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.95
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1027.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8321 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 47
Blue Ridge Sculpin 17
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 13
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 12
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 11
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 10
Diphetor Mayfly 7
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 5
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Leucrocuta Mayfly 2
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Lepidostomatidae Lepidostomatid Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 1
Isoperla Stripetail 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.