MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-109-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-109-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-109-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CATOCTIN CR UT3 in the Catoctin Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2003 and again in the summer on 7/23/2003.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 100 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 15 %
Forested Land Use 84 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 33 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 98 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.25
Conductivity 120 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		383.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8 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
No Fish Observed 0
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambaridae

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 19
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 19
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 9
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 8
Orthocladiinae Midge 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 3
Hexatoma Crane Fly 3
Tipula Crane Fly 3
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 3
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Dixa 2
Molophilus 2
Stempellina 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Diptera True Fly 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.