MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-122-X-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-122-X-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-122-X-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on THREE BRIDGES BRANCH 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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,730 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 2.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 72.6 %
Forested Land Use 24.1 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 62 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 17 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 21.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.7
Conductivity 281 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
928.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.3346 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fallfish 49
Tessellated Darter 29
American Eel 24
Eastern Mudminnow 7
Pumpkinseed 5
Creek Chubsucker 3
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Pirate Perch 3
Redfin Pickerel 2
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Margined Madtom 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:

Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 10
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Neophylax Caddisfly 7
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Dugesiidae Flatworm 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker 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.