MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2012-30mPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2012-30mPupstream (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 3/22/2012 and again in the summer on 6/28/2012.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.8 / 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 34 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 57 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.72
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		925.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8999 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 152
Blue Ridge Sculpin 35
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Slimy Salamander
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 29
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 12
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 8
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 6
Diphetor Mayfly 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 5
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 4
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 2
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Heterocloeon 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet 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.