MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-124-X-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-124-X-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-124-X-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Gravel Run in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2009 and again in the summer on 6/15/2009.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)

Catchment area 669 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 89 %
Forested Land Use 9 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
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 17.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 242 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
974 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.1291 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 122
Eastern Mudminnow 37
Least Brook Lamprey 22
American Eel 11
Fallfish 7
Creek Chubsucker 5
Golden Shiner 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 11
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 11
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 8
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 7
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 4
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 4
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Gammarus Amphipod 3
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Palmacorixa 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Gomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Limnodrilus 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.