MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-304-H-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-304-H-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-304-H-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 4/5/2010 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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI N R

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 40,795 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 18.9 %
Forested Land Use 74.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 8 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 7.495
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
235.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3739 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Northern Hogsucker 57
River Chub 55
Central Stoneroller 42
Bluntnose Minnow 32
Rosyface Shiner 31
Rock Bass 30
Rainbow Trout 18
Longnose Dace 17
Creek Chub 11
Pumpkinseed 10
Smallmouth Bass 6
Brown Trout 5
White Sucker 4
Bluegill 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:

Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:

Multiflora Rose
 

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.