MBSS Site Summary for: PRUT-107-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUT-107-R-2001-124 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRUT-107-R-2001-125 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HENSON CREEK UT2 in the Potomac River U tidal watershed, 8-digit code: 02140201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2001 and again in the summer on 7/9/2001.

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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 673 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 60 %
Agricultural Land Use 8 %
Forested Land Use 34 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 3/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters
6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters
4/20 (Poor)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. 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 21.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.1
Conductivity 230 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
458.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
No Fish Observed 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern Box Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 30
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 6
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 6
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 5
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Tipula Crane Fly 3
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Culicoides 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker 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.