MBSS Site Summary for: PRWA-102-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-102-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-102-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-102-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-102-R-2002-4 (Opens in a new window)

Located on FROG HOLLOW in the Potomac River WA Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140501.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2002 and again in the summer on 6/26/2002.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,900 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 5 %
Forested Land Use 88 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 24 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.2 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.2 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.89
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		396.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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
Creek Chub 7
Green Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 29
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 12
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Orthocladiinae Midge 9
Crangonyx Amphipod 8
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 7
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Paraleuctra 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Ostrocerca Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 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.