MBSS Site Summary for: PRWA-104-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-104-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRWA-104-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on GREEN SPRING RUN UT in the Potomac River WA Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140501.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/8/2014 and again in the summer on 6/3/2014.

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 Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 623 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 17.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.8 %
Forested Land Use 79.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters
8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 37 meters
9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.61
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
800.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8978 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 32
Creek Chub 13
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 111
Prosimulium Black Fly 8
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 6
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 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.