MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-101-X-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-101-X-2013-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-101-X-2013-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE GUNPOWDER FALLS UT in the Little Gunpowder Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130804.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/30/2013 and again in the summer on 7/26/2013.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 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 315 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 69.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 5.6 %
Forested Land Use 24 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 49 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.13
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		370.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3814 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 591
Creek Chub 51
Rosyside Dace 19
American Eel 9
Longnose Dace 6
Cutlip Minnow 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 25
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 17
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 10
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Antocha Crane Fly 7
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 4
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 4
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 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.