MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-102-S-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-102-S-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-102-S-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT TO EMORY CREEK in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2008 and again in the summer on 7/29/2008.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 639 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 14.2 %
Forested Land Use 83.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 49 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.62
Conductivity 123 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		197.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.54 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 7
Golden Shiner 2
Redfin Pickerel 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Gartersnake
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 29
Prosimulium Black Fly 19
Stegopterna Black Fly 11
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 7
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 5
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Synurella Amphipod 3
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Neurocordulia 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 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.