MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-212-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-212-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-212-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-212-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on GRINDSTONE RUN 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 7/2/2003.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,460 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 13 %
Agricultural Land Use 23 %
Forested Land Use 63 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 51 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.57
Conductivity 244 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		490.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 302
Fantail Darter 88
Longnose Dace 40
Bluntnose Minnow 26
Central Stoneroller 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 23
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 19
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 7
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 4
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Pericoma 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 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.