MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-129-X-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-129-X-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-129-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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 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 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
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 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.84
Conductivity 177 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		524.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 16.1992 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 72
Redfin Pickerel 25
Pirate Perch 22
Tessellated Darter 19
Creek Chubsucker 10
American Eel 8
Golden Shiner 4
Bluegill 3
Fallfish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 52
Stegopterna Black Fly 11
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Musculium Fingernail Clam 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Ephydridae Shore Fly 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.