MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-201-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-201-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-201-R-2001-2 (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 3/7/2001 and again in the summer on 6/12/2001.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 8,580 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 72 %
Forested Land Use 27 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.48
Conductivity 150 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		476.6 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 281
Cutlip Minnow 154
Rosyside Dace 148
Longnose Dace 104
American Eel 62
Tessellated Darter 41
White Sucker 37
Sea Lamprey 33
Margined Madtom 32
Satinfin Shiner 22
Common Shiner 16
Swallowtail Shiner 9
Redbreast Sunfish 5
River Chub 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 23
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 21
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 9
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 9
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Prosimulium Black Fly 7
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 4
Simulium Black Fly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Dolichopodidae Long-Legged Fly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Pagastia 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 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.