MBSS Site Summary for: CORS-217-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 9/26/2006.

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 Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,218 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 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 69 %
Forested Land Use 30 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 20 %
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 15.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.25
Conductivity 233 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		758.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.9383 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
Golden Shiner 261
Creek Chubsucker 61
Tessellated Darter 44
Least Brook Lamprey 34
Redfin Pickerel 34
Pirate Perch 20
American Eel 19
Eastern Mudminnow 12
Redbreast Sunfish 12
Pumpkinseed 9
Bluegill 7
Rosyside Dace 4
Fallfish 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 33
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 13
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 11
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 6
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 5
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Cryptotendipes 4
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphipoda Scud 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Paracladopelma Non-Biting Midge 1
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Tanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Goniobasis 1
Ischnura 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 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.