MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-128-R-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-128-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-128-R-2023_Midpoint_facing_upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO OVERSHOT BRANCH in the Little Gunpowder Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130804.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/3/2023 and again in the summer on 8/17/2023.

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.
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Catchment area No data available A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 38 %
Agricultural Land Use 24.1 %
Forested Land Use 36.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.34 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.36
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		767.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.343 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 297
Rosyside Dace 133
Creek Chub 74
American Eel 16
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 30
DIAMESA Bloodworm 26
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 17
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 6
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 6
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 5
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 4
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 4
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 4
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 3
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 2
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 2
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
ECCOPTURA Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
RHYACOPHILA Free-Living Caddisfly 1
NEOPLASTA 1
TIPULA Crane Fly 1
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
CONCHAPELOPIA Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS 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.