MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2013-BoulderAt30mDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2013-BoulderAt30mUpstream (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 3/4/2013 and again in the summer on 6/11/2013.

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 - 4.8 / 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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 58 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.67
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		582.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6113 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 145
Blue Ridge Sculpin 44
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Ringneck Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 18
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 9
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 4
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 4
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
HYDROPSYCHIDAE Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
PERLIDAE Common 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.