MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-104-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-104-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-104-X-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINEY CREEK in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/16/2011 and again in the summer on 6/28/2011.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,064 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 30.5 %
Forested Land Use 62 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 39 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 15 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.975
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		125.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9028 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
Central Stoneroller 317
Bluntnose Minnow 263
Creek Chub 122
Blacknose Dace 94
White Sucker 59
Largemouth Bass 38
Green Sunfish 22
Pumpkinseed 17
Yellow Perch 15
Bluegill 4
Longnose Dace 2
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake
Smooth Greensnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 71
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 7
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Georthocladius 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
CURCULIONIDAE Weevil 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.