MBSS Site Summary for: LIGU-232-X-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-232-X-2023_Midpoint_looking_downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIGU-232-X-2023_Midpoint_looking_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 9/12/2023.

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 - 3.7 / 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 7.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 60.4 %
Forested Land Use 30.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 10 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.98 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.7
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		636.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.683 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:
None observed

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 22
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 16
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 13
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 8
SIMULIUM Black Fly 6
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 4
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 3
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 3
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 2
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 2
DOLOPHILODES Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 2
PARAKIEFFERIELLA European Non-Biting Midge 1
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 1
TELOGANOPSIS Mayfly 1
GOERA 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
HYDROPTILA Microcaddisfly 1
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 1
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 1
BRILLIA Non-Biting Midges 1
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 1
POTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 1
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 1
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
PLAUDITUS Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.