MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-215-X-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-215-X-2023_Midpoint_facing_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-215-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 Poor - 2.3 / 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 8.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 58.4 %
Forested Land Use 32.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 5 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 75 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 75%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.58 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.22
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		624.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.336 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:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Faxonius virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 45
CHIRONOMUS Non-Biting Midges 11
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 10
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 9
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 6
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 6
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 6
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 5
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 3
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 2
BRILLIA Non-Biting Midges 2
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 2
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
PARATENDIPES European Non-Biting Midge 2
STENOCHIRONOMUS European Non-Biting Midge 1
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
CONCHAPELOPIA Non-Biting Midges 1
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 1
POTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 1
STICTOCHIRONOMUS Non-Biting Midge 1
BEZZIA/PALPOMYIA/PROBEZZIA 1
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
CALOPTERYX Damselfly 1
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle 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.