MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-101-D-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-101-D-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-101-D-2013-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINEY CREEK UT in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/15/2013 and again in the summer on 6/18/2013.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 214 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 4.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 59.1 %
Forested Land Use 36.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 55 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.15
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		194.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3611 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chub 96
Blacknose Dace 42
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Gartersnake
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Green Frog
Northern Slimy Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 41
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 18
Neophylax Caddisfly 14
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 12
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Ectopria Water Penny Beetle 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 2
Pilaria 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Habrophlebia Prong-Gilled Mayfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 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.