MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-208-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-208-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-208-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Catoctin Creek in the Catoctin Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/5/2017 and again in the summer on 7/27/2017.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 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 21.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 54.4 %
Forested Land Use 23.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.51
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		986.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.271 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 709
Fantail Darter 156
Nocomis Sp. 100
Longnose Dace 95
Central Stoneroller 73
Rosyside Dace 66
Creek Chub 15
White Sucker 14
Bluntnose Minnow 6
Rainbow Darter 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Red Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 49
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 10
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 8
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 8
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 5
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 4
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 4
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 3
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 3
DIAMESA Bloodworm 3
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 3
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
STEMPELLINELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 2
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ELMIDAE Riffle Beetle 1
POTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ABLABESMYIA Non-Biting Midge 1
AMELETUS Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance 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.