MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-206-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-206-X-2016_Midpoint looking downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRFR-206-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 7/11/2016.

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 - 1.5 / 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 1,656 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 6.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 72.6 %
Forested Land Use 18.7 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 41 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 15 %
Embeddedness 40 %


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
Yellow Bullhead 36
Common Shiner 22
Green Sunfish 18
Redbreast Sunfish 14
Bluntnose Minnow 13
Creek Chub 12
Bluegill 10
Longnose Dace 7
Central Stoneroller 4
Largemouth Bass 3
American Eel 1
Silverjaw Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 38
Simulium Black Fly 28
Naididae Aquatic Worm 19
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 15
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 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.