MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-215-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-215-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-215-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE BENNETT CR in the Lower Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140302.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2003 and again in the summer on 6/24/2003.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,338 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 13 %
Agricultural Land Use 50 %
Forested Land Use 37 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 40 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.39
Conductivity 188 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		396.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 230
Rosyside Dace 65
Blue Ridge Sculpin 59
Fantail Darter 27
Potomac Sculpin 25
Central Stoneroller 18
Bluegill 13
White Sucker 7
Creek Chub 4
Longnose Dace 4
American Eel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 25
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 16
Hydrobaenus Midge 11
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 9
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Stegopterna Black Fly 4
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Plecoptera Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 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.