MBSS Site Summary for: PRLT-101-B-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLT-101-B-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRLT-101-B-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on WHITES NECK CREEK in the Potomac River L tidal watershed, 8-digit code: 02140101.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/24/2008 and again in the summer on 6/11/2008.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 1,102 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 6.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 61.6 %
Forested Land Use 31.7 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 24.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.54
Conductivity 121 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		257.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13.1995 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Mummichog 32
Bluegill 16
Golden Shiner 4
American Eel 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Fallicambarus fodiens

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 40
Crangonyctidae Scud 30
Synurella Amphipod 21
Gammarus Amphipod 5
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Pilaria 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Cladopelma 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Nanocladius 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.