MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-128-X-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-128-X-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-128-X-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Mill Stream 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 6/17/2009.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 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 668 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 84 %
Forested Land Use 15 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 3/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.89
Conductivity 232 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		427.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.0339 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 170
Tessellated Darter 8
American Eel 4
Pirate Perch 3
Redfin Pickerel 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 19
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 14
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 8
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 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.