MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-205-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-205-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-205-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL STREAM BR in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/12/2000 and again in the summer on 8/10/2000.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,191 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 0.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 60.7 %
Forested Land Use 38.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 25 %
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 20.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.88
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		518.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 11.1 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Least Brook Lamprey 57
Tessellated Darter 54
Eastern Mudminnow 52
Redfin Pickerel 48
Pirate Perch 39
American Eel 32
Rosyside Dace 31
Golden Shiner 23
Creek Chubsucker 13
Bluegill 3
Fallfish 3
Margined Madtom 2
Pumpkinseed 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 33
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 11
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Amphipoda Scud 7
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 4
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Gammarus Amphipod 3
Hexagenia 2
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 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.