MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-103-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-103-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-103-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MANOR RUN in the Catoctin Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2003 and again in the summer on 7/16/2003.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 732 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 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 60 %
Forested Land Use 35 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 22 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.32
Conductivity 269 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		888.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.4 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fathead Minnow 9
Bluntnose Minnow 8
Green Sunfish 8
Creek Chub 5
River Chub 5
Blacknose Dace 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 21
Diamesa Bloodworm 15
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 12
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 10
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Tipulidae Cranefly 3
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 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.