MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-201-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-201-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-201-X-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BALLENGER CREEK in the Lower Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140302.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2011 and again in the summer on 6/27/2011.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,444 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 14.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 48.1 %
Forested Land Use 33.1 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.69
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1270.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3583 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 105
Blacknose Dace 88
Potomac Sculpin 60
White Sucker 58
Fantail Darter 24
Bluegill 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 19
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 14
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 13
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Antocha Crane Fly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
AMPHIPODA Scud 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Simulium Black Fly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Cnephia Black Fly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI 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.