MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-144-X-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-144-X-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-144-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 and again in the summer on 9/8/2023.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 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 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 7.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 61.8 %
Forested Land Use 29 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 31 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 0 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.58 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.43
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		427.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.138 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:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 36
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 10
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 9
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 8
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 8
SIMULIUM Black Fly 7
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 7
DOLOPHILODES Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 6
DIAMESA Bloodworm 4
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 3
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 3
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 2
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 2
HYDROPSYCHIDAE Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
ELOEOPHILA 1
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 1
ORTHOCLADIUS 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.