MBSS Site Summary for: MO-P-495-312-96


Located on LITTLE BENNET CR in the Lower Monocacy River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140302.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/1996 and again in the summer on 8/16/1996.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 7,879 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 48.3 %
Forested Land Use 49.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		454.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 141
Blacknose Dace 104
Rosyside Dace 47
Potomac Sculpin 32
Central Stoneroller 28
Fantail Darter 28
Creek Chub 23
Longnose Dace 12
Fallfish 6
Northern Hogsucker 6
Common Shiner 4
White Sucker 3
Rock Bass 2
Bluegill 1
Brown Trout 1
Greenside Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 22
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 20
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 17
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 12
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 2
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Thienemannimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow 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.