MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-104-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-104-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-104-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE CR (CATOCTIN) in the Catoctin Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2003 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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 225 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 100 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 19 meters 		3/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 14 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.51
Conductivity 31 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		68.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 12
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 7
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 7
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Phylocentropus Caddisfly 1
Brundiniella 1
Diploperla 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Corynoneura 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.