MBSS Site Summary for: PRWA-119-R-2000


Located on POTOMAC RIVER UT3 in the Potomac River WA Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140501.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/2000 and again in the summer on 8/3/2000.

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 - 2.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 537 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 27.2 %
Forested Land Use 65.9 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.55
Conductivity 290 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1112 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5 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
Blacknose Dace 326
Creek Chub 38
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenelmis Beetle 23
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 17
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 8
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 6
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Ectopria Water Penny Beetle 4
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning 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.