MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-103-D-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-103-D-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-103-D-2013-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on TWO MILE RUN 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 6/19/2013.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 270 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 8.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 49.9 %
Forested Land Use 35.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.18
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		385.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.7919 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
Blacknose Dace 17
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 20
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 19
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Diamesa Bloodworm 8
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 6
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 5
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Diphetor Mayfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ptychoptera 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead 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.