MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-216-X-2006


Located on Mill Stream Branch in the Corsica River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130507.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/6/2006 and again in the summer on 8/2/2006.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,705 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 70 %
Forested Land Use 28 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 33 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
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.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.59
Conductivity 214 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		737.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.3261 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fallfish 72
Rosyside Dace 67
Tessellated Darter 64
American Eel 57
Least Brook Lamprey 19
Pirate Perch 9
Redfin Pickerel 9
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Creek Chubsucker 4
Bluegill 3
Eastern Mudminnow 1
Sea Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 22
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 22
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 12
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 11
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Simulium Black Fly 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Serratella Mayfly 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Crangonyctidae Scud 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 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.