MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-114-R-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-114-R-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-114-R-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Little Catoctin Creek in the Catoctin Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/14/2009 and again in the summer on 6/29/2009.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 376 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 13.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 35.8 %
Forested Land Use 51 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters
9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 19.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.44
Conductivity 203 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
693.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8389 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 94
Fantail Darter 33
Creek Chub 29
Bluntnose Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Shrub Honeysuckle
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 12
Gammarus Amphipod 10
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 7
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Eurylophella Mayfly 6
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 6
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 6
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 5
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Simulium Black Fly 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 4
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Endochironomus 1
Neoporus 1
Pedicia 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 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.