MBSS Site Summary for: CASS-307-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-307-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CASS-307-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (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 4/7/2014 and again in the summer on 8/5/2014.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 32,425 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.9 %
Forested Land Use 76.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 5 %
Embeddedness 90 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 90%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.15
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		187.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6053 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chub 121
Northern Hogsucker 44
Rock Bass 18
Silverjaw Minnow 16
Smallmouth Bass 16
River Chub 12
Rosyface Shiner 5
Bluntnose Minnow 4
Blacknose Dace 2
Pumpkinseed 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Penelomax 18
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 11
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 10
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 5
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 5
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Sweltsa Stonefly 2
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Mystacides 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Oxyethira Microcaddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Optioservus 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.