MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-129-X-2006


Located on Mill Stream Branch in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/25/2006 and again in the summer on 7/27/2006.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,065 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 43 %
Forested Land Use 55 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 19 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.9 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.9 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.67
Conductivity 187 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		374.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 27.221 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
Eastern Mudminnow 67
Tessellated Darter 60
Pirate Perch 19
Redfin Pickerel 18
Fallfish 10
American Eel 5
Creek Chubsucker 3
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Asellidae Aquatic Sow Bug 42
Gammarus Amphipod 33
Amphipoda Scud 18
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 9
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Simulium Black Fly 4
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Campeloma 1
Endochironomus 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 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.