MBSS Site Summary for: PRUN-108-R-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUN-108-R-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUN-108-R-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Rileys Spring Branch in the Potomac River U N Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02141005.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/23/2007 and again in the summer on 6/4/2007.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 508 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 38.2 %
Forested Land Use 57.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 27 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 67 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 14.23 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 11.25 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 65 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		174.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 16
Blacknose Dace 12
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Northern Dusky Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Red-Spotted Newt
Seal Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 18
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 12
Hexatoma Crane Fly 12
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 11
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 3
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Sweltsa 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.