MBSS Site Summary for: PRMT-155-X-2006


Located on Potomac River UT35 in the Potomac River M tidal watershed, 8-digit code: 02140102.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2006 and again in the summer on 6/8/2006.

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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 61 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 2/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		2/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 98 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 98%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.14
Conductivity 88 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		603.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9181 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 9
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Cricket Frog
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 41
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 29
Stegopterna Black Fly 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 6
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydatophylax Northern Caddisfly 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 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.