MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-200-X-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-200-X-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-200-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 9/7/2023.

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 - 3.0 / 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 7.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 60.5 %
Forested Land Use 30.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.04 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.95
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		636.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.964 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 Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 28
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 16
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 11
SIMULIUM Black Fly 7
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 6
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 6
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 5
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
MICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 4
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 4
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 3
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 3
TRIAENODES Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
NANOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 2
ARGIA Narrow-Winged Damselfly 2
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
ZAVRELIMYIA Non-Biting Midges 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 1
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
TAENIOPTERYX Winter Stonefly 1
FERRISSIA Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
CALOPTERYX Damselfly 1
PARAKIEFFERIELLA European Non-Biting Midge 1
STENOCHIRONOMUS European Non-Biting Midge 1
HYDROPTILA Microcaddisfly 1
STENELMIS Beetle 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.