MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2015


Located on MILL RUN in the Potomac River L N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141001.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/13/2015 and again in the summer on 7/9/2015.

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 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 24 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 52 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		582.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.0909 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 75
Blue Ridge Sculpin 24
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 19
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 16
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 11
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 5
Perlidae Common Stonefly 4
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 4
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 4
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 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.