MBSS Site Summary for: WA-V-164-202-95


Located on RUSH RUN in the Conococheague Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140504.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/1995 and again in the summer on 7/24/1995.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,537 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 5.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 89.3 %
Forested Land Use 4.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 50 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.26
Conductivity 520 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		4851 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 118
Longnose Dace 94
White Sucker 39
Common Shiner 21
Rock Bass 20
Blacknose Dace 19
Bluntnose Minnow 19
Spottail Shiner 14
Spotfin Shiner 13
Smallmouth Bass 4
Yellow Bullhead 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 33
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 27
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 15
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 11
Crangonyx Amphipod 8
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Lirceus Isopod 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Krenopelopia Non-Biting Midge 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.