MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-103-X-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-103-X-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-103-X-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Three Bridges Branch in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2009 and again in the summer on 6/16/2009.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 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 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 68 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
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 20.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.215
Conductivity 255 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		806.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.787 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 96
Eastern Mudminnow 81
Fallfish 17
American Eel 15
Creek Chubsucker 7
Green Sunfish 7
Pumpkinseed 6
Pirate Perch 4
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Southern Ring-Necked Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 32
Stegopterna Black Fly 11
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Neoporus 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Dolichopodidae Long-Legged Fly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 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.