MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-204-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-204-X-2016_midpoint downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-204-X-2016_midpoint 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 6/30/2016.

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 - 1.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 2,603 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 5.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.4 %
Forested Land Use 22.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 36 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 51 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 15 %


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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 142
Green Sunfish 57
Blacknose Dace 37
Longnose Dace 33
Yellow Bullhead 25
Common Shiner 11
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Creek Chub 7
Largemouth Bass 6
Bluegill 4
Central Stoneroller 2
Fantail 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:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 46
Simulium Black Fly 13
Orthocladiinae Midge 8
Naididae Aquatic Worm 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 7
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Caecidotea Isopod 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 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.