MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-103-X-2006


Located on Three Bridges Branch UT2 in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2006 and again in the summer on 7/18/2006.

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 - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,059 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 69 %
Forested Land Use 28 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 8 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 25 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.86
Conductivity 230 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1157.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.8826 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 161
Eastern Mudminnow 33
Fallfish 20
American Eel 11
Pirate Perch 5
Pumpkinseed 4
White Sucker 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 27
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 20
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 9
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 8
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 4
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 3
Caecidotea Isopod 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Corixidae Water Boatman 2
Gyrinus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 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.