MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-142-X-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-142-X-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-142-X-2023_Midpoint_facing_upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE GUNPOWDER FALLS in the Little Gunpowder Falls watershed, 8-digit code: 02130804.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/24/2023.

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 N R
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 No data available 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 6.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 61.4 %
Forested Land Use 30.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat not sampled
Epifaunal Substrate not sampled
Velocity/Depth Diversity not sampled
Pool Quality not sampled
Riffle Quality not sampled
Shading not sampled
Embeddedness not sampled


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.36
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
449.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.992 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:

Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Spring Peeper

Crayfish:

Faxonius limosus

Exotic Plants:

No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 24
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 13
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 12
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 11
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 11
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 6
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 5
PARAKIEFFERIELLA European Non-Biting Midge 4
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
LIMNOPHYES Non-Biting Midge 3
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 2
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 2
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
DIAMESA Bloodworm 1
PARATENDIPES European Non-Biting Midge 1
SMITTIA European Non-Biting Midge 1
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 1
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
STICTOCHIRONOMUS Non-Biting Midge 1
BRILLIA Non-Biting Midges 1
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP 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.