Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001 By David C. Voelker Prepared in cooperation with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Office of Environmental Services Water-Resources Investigations Report 03–4331 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ iii Contents Abstract . 1 Introduction . 2 Purpose and Scope . 4 Previous Work . 4 Description of Study Area . 4 Methods of Investigation . 4 Selection of Sampling Sites . 5 Physical Habitats . 5 Benthic Invertebrates . 5 Fish . 7 Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites . 8 White River near Nora, Ind. 8 White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 14 White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 15 White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind. 16 White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind. 16 White River at Waverly, Ind. 17 Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind. 17 Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 18 Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 19 Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 19 Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 20 Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 21 Comparisons among Sites . 21 Physical Habitats . 21 Benthic-Invertebrate Communities. 21 Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index . 22 Hilsenhoff Biotic Index . 22 Invertebrate Community Index . 22 Fish Communities . 23 Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity . 24 Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity . 24 Comparisons to Previous USGS Studies . 24 Benthic Invertebrates . 24 Fish . 25 Summary . 25 Acknowledgments . 29 Selected References . 29 iv Contents—Continued Figures 1. Map showing location of the study area and sampling sites on the White River and tributaries in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, where benthic-invertebrate and fish communities were sampled, 1999–2001 . 3 2.–7. Graphs showing— 2. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index scores for sites sampled, 2000 . 8 3. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index scores for sites sampled, 1999–2001. 9 4. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores for sites sampled, 1999–2001. 10 5. Invertebrate Community Index scores for sites sampled, 1999–2001. 11 6. Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity scores for sites sampled, 1999–2001. 12 7. Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity scores for sites sampled, 1999–2001. 13 8.–19. Maps showing sampling locations at— 8. White River near Nora, Ind. 14 9. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 15 10. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 15 11. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind. 16 12. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind. 17 13. White River at Waverly, Ind. ..