Water Quality

Big Hunting Creek near Park Headquarters

Volunteer John Zuke

 

Resource management staff monitoring water quality

NPS R. Loncosky

Streams of Catoctin Mountain Park have relatively good water quality, although there is the potential for problems. There are two main streams in Catoctin, Big Hunting Creek and Owens Creek. The headwaters of Owens Creek begin inside the park and therefore have little chance of being contaminated by outside sources. However, there is a sewage treatment plant near the headwaters of Owens Creek that could threaten water quality if there is a malfunction. The headwaters of Big Hunting Creek are outside of the park, putting this creek at risk for potential problems that cannot be completely controlled by the park.

 

Blue Blazes Creek bridge by Visitor Center

Volunteer John Zuke

In 1978 Catoctin began a long-term water quality-monitoring program so the streams could be closely watched for signs of pollution and other problems. This monitoring program entails taking water samples every other month from nine sites within the park. These samples are analyzed in the lab for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, salinity, specific conductivity, turbidity, and alkalinity. Regular testing of Catoctin’s streams ensures that any water quality problems can be quickly recognized and dealt with.

In 2002 Catoctin received funding to complete a more extensive stream water quality study. This two-year study examined surface water and stream sediments for heavy metals, pesticides, and bacteria concentrations in five stream locations. Results showed slightly elevated amounts of aluminum at one location. No other significant contamination was found at the remaining sites.

 

Crayfish in sampling dish

Volunteer John Zuke

In addition to the water sampling studies, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling studies have occurred on Big Hunting Creek and Owens Creek. Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals that live in lakes and streams that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Included in this group are insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and annelids. Sampling these animals offers additional water quality information and can demonstrate the impacts of pollution. High diversity of these sensitive organisms has been found in both Big Hunting Creek and Owens Creek indicating that the water quality is good.

 

Brown Trout in shallow creek

Volunteer John Zuke

In 2015, a USGS study of stream temperatures, including the effect of ground water influences, and the distribution of freshwater fish at Catoctin began. Their report, after two years of study, can be viewed at Forecasting stream habitat and Brook Trout responses to climate change in Catoctin Mountain Park (doc 5.52MB). Study of water temperature continues today to monitor stream health and the health of fish, such as the blue ridge sculpin, in our streams.

Though water quality is generally considered good at Catoctin the current status of water quality and quantity in both Owens Creek and Big Hunting Creek warrants moderate concern. This concern is primarily due to rising stream temperatures and the presence of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates at levels above those recommended for streams by the EPA.

Further studies of stream chemistry using continuous loggers is currently being conducted by the National Capital Area Inventory and Monitoring team.

Learn more by visiting Catoctin Mountain Park's Fish page.