MBSS Site Summary for: LMON-322-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-322-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-322-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-322-R-2003-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-322-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LMON-322-R-2003-5 (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 7/1/2003.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 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 6,290 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 7 %
Agricultural Land Use 49 %
Forested Land Use 43 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.27
Conductivity 163 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		357.7 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 197
Blue Ridge Sculpin 133
Fantail Darter 51
Potomac Sculpin 22
Rosyside Dace 15
White Sucker 8
Central Stoneroller 6
Longnose Dace 5
Rock Bass 2
Common Shiner 1
Northern Hogsucker 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
Crangonyx Amphipod 20
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 10
Hydrobaenus Midge 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Orthocladiinae Midge 8
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 5
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 4
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 3
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic 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.