MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-240-T-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-240-T-2000-01 (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 3/30/2000 and again in the summer on 7/17/2000.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,117 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 4.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 60.4 %
Forested Land Use 34.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 57 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.53
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		486.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 1487
Central Stoneroller 360
Blue Ridge Sculpin 212
Creek Chub 185
Rosyside Dace 162
Potomac Sculpin 150
White Sucker 92
Fantail Darter 43
Longnose Dace 36
Largemouth Bass 8
Bluegill 4
Pumpkinseed 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Common Ribbonsnake
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 24
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 12
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 7
Eurylophella Mayfly 6
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Constempellina 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 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.