MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2014-DownstreamfromBoulderat30m (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2014-UpstreamfromBoulderat30m (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 3/20/2014 and again in the summer on 6/4/2014.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 470 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 100 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 53 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.65
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		528.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3746 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 118
Blue Ridge Sculpin 43
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 25
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 21
Epeorus Mayfly 17
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 8
Neophylax Caddisfly 7
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 5
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 4
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.