MBSS Site Summary for: CATO-214-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-214-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-214-R-2003-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-214-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-214-R-2003-5 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CATO-214-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LEWIS MILL BR 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 6/25/2003.

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 2,798 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 11 %
Agricultural Land Use 69 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 48 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.64
Conductivity 270 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		718.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 354
Fantail Darter 162
Bluntnose Minnow 124
Central Stoneroller 90
Longnose Dace 34
Greenside Darter 28
Creek Chub 10
Rainbow Darter 6
White Sucker 3
Redbreast Sunfish 2
River Chub 2
Common Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 27
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 5
Perlidae Common Stonefly 4
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Plecoptera Stonefly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia 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.