local landscape. But the water quality or some other factor is definitely affecting the fish community's 

 low integrity ratings. All substrate of the reach was silt dominated with some cobble associated with the 

 bridge. Adjacent riparian vegetation was dominated by Eleocharis palnstris. the common spikerush and 

 grasses which provided excellent bank stabilitN (Figure 37). Aquatic submerged vegetation provided the 

 most significant stream habitat in this reach contributing to the abundant brook sticklebacks. Livestock 

 use index (LUI) was low here with zero cow pies counted on a 50 m walk of the left & right banks. 

 Pugging and hummocking was absent. 



Reach Riparian Ranking: BLM= 66.7% (16 of 24) EPA RBP= 67.5% (135 of 200) 



Reach Riparian Geomorphology: The geomorphology of this stream reach is a Rosgen F6 with a 

 gentle slope (< 1 %), low sinuosity, a run-pool configuration w ith sill-dominated runs and pools. Pools are 

 slightly incised and averaged -30 cm in depth, wetted width of the reach averaged 5m. Surrounding bank 

 materials are similar to the channel bed materials indicating a balance of accumulation locally and 

 upstream in the reach. 



Amphibian Community: 20 Adult Northern Leopard Frog (NLF) present. Undetermined toad, Bufo 

 sp., tadpoles (prob. Woodhouse's) also present in pool. 



Fish Community: 5 fish species (3 natives) were seined in the pools. Dominant species are the fathead 

 minnow and brook stickleback and the white sucker was also present. Expected fish for this stream type 

 have not been met. and the fish IBI is showing moderate impairment. This indicates that habitat quality or 

 water quality are definitely affecting the fish community. 



Fish Community Quality: IBI= 49.5 0/E= 2/2.4 or 83% of the expected indicator fish species. 



Macroinvertebrate Community: This community of prairie stream invertebrates consists of the 

 Prairie Pool assemblage (#12. Stagliano 2005). The community indicator species are characterized by 

 tolerant, damselfiy taxa, Coenagrion/Enalla^ma sp. Enallagma civile, testes ami Ishnnra. the 

 crustaceans (Hyalella and (hinimarus). many genera and species of the water boatman (Corixidae: 

 Sifiara allcrnale. Irichocorixa nais. arid C'oriselUi). the snails (f'hvM'llii, iiyruiiliis. and Slui^nicola), 

 mayflies (Caenis and Callibaelis). and beetles (Oreodytes. Laccophilus, Hydroporus and Hygrotus). 

 As the complexity of the pool habitat decreases the dinger habitat species are lost, such as the 

 damselfiies and man\ of the water boatman taxa. Over 80% of the indicator species were present in this 

 sample. 



Macroinvertebrate Community Quality: MT MMI= 39.5 0/E= 80% 



36 



