MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-111-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-111-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-111-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-111-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-111-R-2003-4 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BROAD RUN (MP) UT1 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 7/16/2003.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 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 782 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 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 59 %
Forested Land Use 38 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.31
Conductivity 206 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		462.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.4 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 233
Fantail Darter 40
Creek Chub 35
Bluntnose Minnow 24
Bluegill 15
Redbreast Sunfish 4
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambaridae

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 13
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 11
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Diamesa Bloodworm 9
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 7
Psephenus Water Penny 7
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 6
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 5
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Simulium Black 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.