MBSS Site Summary for: PRFR-214-R-2004


Located on LITTLE CATOCTIN CR in the Potomac River FR Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140301.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/24/2004 and again in the summer on 8/10/2004.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,464 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 8 %
Agricultural Land Use 73 %
Forested Land Use 18 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.02
Conductivity 316 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		768 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluntnose Minnow 167
Blacknose Dace 141
Fantail Darter 85
White Sucker 69
Longnose Dace 57
Central Stoneroller 25
Silverjaw Minnow 24
Redbreast Sunfish 18
Greenside Darter 15
Yellow Bullhead 14
Green Sunfish 13
Creek Chub 7
Creek Chubsucker 2
Smallmouth Bass 2
Northern Hogsucker 1
Rainbow Darter 1
River Chub 1
Rock Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 67
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 22
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Diamesa Bloodworm 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 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.