MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-109-H-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-109-H-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-109-H-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Big Laurel Run in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/5/2010 and again in the summer on 6/15/2010.

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 N R
Benthic IBI N R

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 3,086 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 2.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 15.1 %
Forested Land Use 80 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.03
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		81.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3934 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Benthic data unavailable.
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.