MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-303-A-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-303-A-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-303-A-2010-2 (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 4/7/2010 and again in the summer on 6/2/2010.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 44,961 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 21.4 %
Forested Land Use 71.8 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 24 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.455
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		291.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.484 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
River Chub 74
Northern Hogsucker 37
Central Stoneroller 24
Rainbow Trout 24
Rosyface Shiner 20
Bluntnose Minnow 17
Smallmouth Bass 17
Rock Bass 16
Creek Chub 8
Longnose Dace 8
Brown Trout 7
Blacknose Dace 2
Pumpkinseed 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Spring Peeper

Crayfish:
Cambarus dubius

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Psephenus Water Penny 17
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Antocha Crane Fly 8
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 6
Brachycentrus Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly 4
Stenacron Mayfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Ceratopsyche 3
Helicopsyche 3
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Oemopteryx Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 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.