MBSS Site Summary for: GA-A-059-225-97


Located on SOUTH BR CASSELMAN R in the Casselman River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/9/1997 and again in the summer on 8/7/1997.

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 - 4.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,047 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 25.4 %
Forested Land Use 74.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 12 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		149.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 11
White Sucker 10
Creek Chub 7
Bluegill 3
Pumpkinseed 2
Longnose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 31
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Epeorus Mayfly 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 2
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 2
Krenopelopia Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Haploperla Green Stonefly 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 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.