MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-207-R-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-207-R-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CORS-207-R-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Mill Stream Branch in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2007 and again in the summer on 8/28/2007.

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 - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,807 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 0.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.4 %
Forested Land Use 30.7 %


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 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 73 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 21 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 95 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 95%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.6 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.6 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.96
Conductivity 239 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		530.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 11.2643 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 90
Tessellated Darter 67
Fallfish 30
Pirate Perch 30
American Eel 20
Golden Shiner 17
Creek Chubsucker 12
Pumpkinseed 11
Redbreast Sunfish 6
Redfin Pickerel 6
Least Brook Lamprey 5
Margined Madtom 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 18
Gammarus Amphipod 16
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 7
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 7
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 6
Musculium Fingernail Clam 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Corixidae Water Boatman 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Somatochlora 1
Fossaria Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Scirtidae Marsh Beetle 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 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.