MBSS Site Summary for: PRUN-102-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUN-102-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUN-102-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on McMILLAN FORK OF SHIELDS RU in the Potomac River U N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141005.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2001 and again in the summer on 8/20/2001.

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 - 1.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,227 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 8 %
Forested Land Use 86 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 11.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 240 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		301.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7 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 533
Creek Chub 232
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 19
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 18
Neophylax Caddisfly 12
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 10
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Sweltsa Stonefly 5
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Erioptera Cranefly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Dolichopodidae Long-Legged Fly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Oemopteryx Stonefly 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.