MBSS Site Summary for: PRLN-626-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2016-DownstreamFromBoulderAt30m (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLN-626-S-2016-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 3/2/2016 and again in the summer on 7/7/2016.

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 272 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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 27 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		536.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0947 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 86
Blue Ridge Sculpin 23
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
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 19
Epeorus Mayfly 19
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 7
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 4
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 3
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Perlidae Common Stonefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 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.