MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-110-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-110-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-110-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on OVERSHOT BR in the Little Gunpowder Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130804.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2001 and again in the summer on 6/11/2001.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 298 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 20 %
Agricultural Land Use 63 %
Forested Land Use 14 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters
7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.45
Conductivity 150 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
282.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 218
American Eel 18
Creek Chub 8
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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
Stegopterna Black Fly 33
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 18
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 4
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 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.