MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-302-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-302-A-2012_Mid-pointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-302-A-2012_Mid-pointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on CASSELMAN RIVER in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/28/2012 and again in the summer on 8/14/2012.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 30,201 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 16 %
Forested Land Use 78 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.16
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		180.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6639 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Central Stoneroller 154
Rosyface Shiner 99
River Chub 78
Creek Chub 71
Northern Hogsucker 26
Blacknose Dace 25
Greenside Darter 22
Rock Bass 19
Longnose Dace 11
Bluntnose Minnow 10
Smallmouth Bass 7
Largemouth Bass 1
Silverjaw Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stactobiella 16
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 9
Penelomax 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Antocha Crane Fly 5
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 5
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 5
Psephenus Water Penny 4
Caenis Mayfly 4
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 3
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 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.