MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-202-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-202-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-202-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BIG SHADE RUN in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2008 and again in the summer on 6/25/2008.

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 - 3.0 / 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 4,622 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 22.8 %
Forested Land Use 72.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 0 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.46
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		285.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8947 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 158
Creek Chub 64
Central Stoneroller 28
White Sucker 24
Common Shiner 15
Longnose Dace 11
Northern Hogsucker 6
Brown Trout 3
Rock Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
American Bullfrog
Eastern American Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 16
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 15
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 5
Hexatoma Crane Fly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 3
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 2
Probezzia Biting Midges 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.