MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-208-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-208-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-208-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-208-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CATOCTIN CR UT5 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 8/19/2003.

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 - 3.7 / 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 2,361 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 18 %
Agricultural Land Use 58 %
Forested Land Use 23 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 68 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.78
Conductivity 277 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		694.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 1018
Bluntnose Minnow 417
Fantail Darter 363
Longnose Dace 221
Rosyside Dace 145
Creek Chub 68
Central Stoneroller 39
White Sucker 22
Spotfin Shiner 4
Greenside Darter 2
Rainbow Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 22
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 15
Diamesa Bloodworm 10
Crangonyx Amphipod 8
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Psephenus Water Penny 5
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 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.