MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-202-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-202-X-2016_Midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-202-X-2016_midpoint looking upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Little Catoctin Creek in the Potomac River FR Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/20/2016 and again in the summer on 6/29/2016.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,918 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 7.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.9 %
Forested Land Use 20.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 374
Bluegill 89
Redbreast Sunfish 81
Common Shiner 69
Green Sunfish 48
Blacknose Dace 46
Longnose Dace 31
Central Stoneroller 23
White Sucker 22
Yellow Bullhead 20
Silverjaw Minnow 11
Fantail Darter 6
Largemouth Bass 6
Banded Killifish 3
Creek Chub 2
Redear Sunfish 2
Greenside Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 58
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 12
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Naididae Aquatic Worm 7
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Caenis Mayfly 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Ephydridae Shore Fly 1
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Pagastia 1
Sublettea 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.