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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

14. Buck Creek, 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

15. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

16. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

17. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

18. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

19. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

20.–22. Graphs showing—

20. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index scores for selected sites, 1981–2001. . . 26

21. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores for selected sites, 1981–2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

22. Ratio of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index scores to total taxa for 

selected sites, 1981–2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Tables

1. Discharge at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Area, Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2. Benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3. Habitat characteristics for benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . 32

4. Benthic-invertebrate taxa collected at sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

5. Summary data for benthic invertebrates collected at sampling sites, 1999–2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

6. Fish collected at the White River sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

7. Fish collected at the White River tributary sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

8. Number of anomalies observed on fish collected at sampling sites, 1999–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Contents—Continued

 v

Appendixes

[Compact Disc in Pocket]

9–90. Benthic-Invertebrate Data for:

May 1999—

9. White River near Nora, Ind.

10. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

11. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

12. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

13. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

14. White River at Waverly, Ind.

15. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

16. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

17. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

18. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

19. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

20. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

September 1999—

21. White River near Nora, Ind.

22. White River near Nora, Ind.

23. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

24. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

25. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

26. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

27. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

28. White River at Waverly, Ind.

29. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

30. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

31. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

32. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

33. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

 34. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

May 2000—

35. White River near Nora, Ind.

36. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

37. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

38. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

39. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

40. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

41. White River at Waverly, Ind.

42. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

43. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

44. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

45. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.
vi 

Contents—Continued

Benthic-Invertebrate Data, May 2000—Continued

46. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

47. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

48. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

September 2000—

49. White River near Nora, Ind.

50. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

51. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

52. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

53. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

54. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

55. White River at Waverly, Ind.

56. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

57. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

58. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

59. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

60. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

61. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

62. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

May 2001—

63. White River near Nora, Ind.

64. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

65. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

66. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

67. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

68. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

69. White River at Waverly, Ind.

70. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

71. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

72. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

73. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

74. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

75. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

76. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

September 2001—

77. White River near Nora, Ind.

78. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

79. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

80. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

81. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

82. White River at Waverly, Ind.

83. White River at Waverly, Ind.

84. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

85. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

86. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

87. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.
 vii

Contents—Continued

Benthic-Invertebrate Data, September 2001—Continued

88. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

89. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

90. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

91–125. Fish Data for:

1999—

91. White River near Nora, Ind.

92. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

93. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

94. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

95. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

96. White River at Waverly, Ind.

97. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

98. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

99. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

100. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

101. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

2000—

102. White River near Nora, Ind.

103. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

104. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

105. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

106. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

107. White River at Waverly, Ind.

108. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

109. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

110. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

111. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

112. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

113. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

2001—

114. White River near Nora, Ind.

115. White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

116. White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

117. White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

118. White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

119. White River at Waverly, Ind.

120. Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

121. Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

122. Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

123. Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

124. Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

125. Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.
viii 

Conversion Factors and Acronyms

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F = (1.8 × °C) + 32

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).

Acronyms used in this report:

CSO Combined-Sewer Overflow

DNR Indiana Department of Natural Resources

DPW Department of Public Works (Indianapolis)

EPT Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera 

HBI Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

IBI Index of Biotic Integrity

ICI Invertebrate Community Index

NAWQA National Water-Quality Assessment Program

Ohio EPA Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

QHEI Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

Multiply By To obtain

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

square foot (ft2) 0.09290 square meter (m2)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

yard (yd) 0.9144 meter (m)

pound (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg)

ton, short (2,000 lb) 0.9072 megagram (Mg)

micrometer (μm) 0.00003937 inch (in.)

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound (lb)
Biological Assessment of Streams in the 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

By David C. Voelker

Abstract

During 1999–2001, benthic invertebrates and fish were 

sampled to describe biological communities in the White River 

and selected tributaries in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area 

in Indiana. Twelve sites (six on the White River and six on 

tributaries) were sampled biannually for benthic invertebrates 

and annually for fish. The information complements waterchemistry data collected by the Indianapolis Department of 

Public Works in the study area.

Evaluation of the habitat for sites in the study area was 

done, using a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) 

developed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The 

QHEI scores basin and habitat characteristics for each site, with 

a maximum possible score of 100. Higher scores indicate better 

habitat conditions for biotic communities. The QHEI scores for 

sites on the White River ranged from 55 at the Harding site to 

71 at the Waverly site; scores on the tributaries ranged from 45 

on Pogues Run to 82 on Williams Creek.

A total of 151 taxa were identified from the benthicinvertebrate samples. The Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and 

Trichoptera (EPT) Index scores for sites on the White River 

ranged from 0 at the Harding site to 15 at the Nora site. The 

Nora site, which is upstream from Indianapolis, generally 

scored the highest of all White River sites. Sites in the immediate vicinity of Indianapolis scored the lowest and indicate 

a negative effect on benthic-invertebrate communities in that 

reach. EPT Index scores increased in the farthest downstream 

reaches, which indicate that water-quality conditions had 

improved in comparison to sites in Indianapolis. For the tributary sites, EPT Index values ranged from 0 at Pogues Run to 

16 at Buck Creek. Tributary sites on Fall Creek, Pleasant Run, 

and Pogues Run consistently scored 7 or lower; sites on Buck 

Creek, Eagle Creek, and Williams Creek scored 7 or higher.

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) scores ranged from 4.9 

(good) to 9.6 (very poor) for the White River sites and from 

5.2 (good) to 8.0 (poor) for the tributary sites. The lowest scores 

among the White River sites were at the Nora site, indicating 

the best water-quality conditions were where the White River 

enters Marion County. The highest HBI scores were at the 

Morris and Harding sites, indicating the least-favorable waterquality conditions of all the White River sites. Of the tributary 

sites, HBI scores for Buck, Eagle, and Williams Creeks indicate 

fair water-quality conditions; HBI scores for Pleasant Run and 

Pogues Run were the highest, indicating relatively poor waterquality conditions.

On the White River, the highest Invertebrate Community 

Index (ICI) scores, which indicate the best benthic-invertebrate 

conditions, were at the Nora site. Conditions were fair to poor 

in the downtown Indianapolis area; ICI scores indicate slight 

improvement in the downstream reaches of the study area. 

Of the tributary sites, Buck Creek was the only site with ICI 

scores indicating exceptional water quality. Williams Creek 

ICI scores indicate good water quality; the remaining tributarysite scores reflect fair conditions.

A total of 74 species and 3 hybrids of fish were identified 

during the study period. The Cyprinidae (carps and minnows) 

was the largest group of fish identified and consisted of more 

than half of all fish collected. The most numerous species 

was the central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum), which 

accounted for almost 25 percent of the fish identified. Two 

nonnative species, the koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and one species classified 

as an Indiana species of special concern, the northern studfish 

(Fundulus catenatus), also were collected during the study.

Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and Ohio Index of 

Biotic Integrity scores were calculated to show the condition 

of the fish communities at each site. Results of the Indiana IBI 

calculations showed no apparent differences in scores among 

the White River sites. Among the tributary sites, however, 

scores from the Pleasant Run and Pogues Run sites indicate 

conditions at those sites were less favorable than at the other 

tributary sites. 

 Results of the study were affected by an accidental discharge at Anderson, Indiana, where toxic chemicals were 

released into the White River in December 1999. The discharge 

resulted in the death of an estimated 117 tons of fish along more 

than 50 miles of the White River from Anderson to south of 

Indianapolis. Biologists began restocking various reaches of the 

river with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings and 

adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), flathead catfish 

(Pylodictis olivaris), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 

smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), redear 

sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), and white crappie (Pomoxis

annularis) from April 2000 through November 2001. In addi-
2 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

tion to the changes in the fish population, the direct and indirect 

effect on the benthic-invertebrate community was not clear.

Since 1981, the U.S. Geological Survey has collected 

benthic invertebrates intermittently at or near three sites (Nora, 

Stout, and Waverly) on the White River. Historically, benthicinvertebrate data at the Nora site indicate generally good conditions as the White River enters the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Area. At the Stout site, however, benthic-invertebrate data indicate that conditions were consistently more degraded than at the 

other two sites. At the Waverly site, data indicate some recovery in water quality, although conditions were not as good as at 

the Nora site. 

Fish data collected during this study also were compared 

to a compilation of fish species historically found in the White 

River Basin. Two species collected in this study—the Ohio 

lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) and the banded darter (Etheostoma zonale)—were not reported in that compilation. 

Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1999) guidance document for monitoring and modeling of combinedsewer overflows (CSOs) states that baseline conditions of 

the receiving water need to be defined. The Indianapolis 

Department of Public Works (DPW), Office of Environmental 

Services, is responsible for managing the city’s infrastructure, 

including the combined-sewer system in Indianapolis. The 

DPW is determining control strategies to mediate the effects 

of CSOs and other point and non-point sources of pollution 

on the water quality of receiving streams in the Indianapolis 

Metropolitan Area. The DPW has an ongoing water-monitoring 

program to collect surface-water-quality samples within Marion County. If surface-water sampling is used as the sole 

method to determine water quality, however, substantial effects 

on the biological communities such as habitat degradation, siltation, and flow alterations can be missed. Biological monitoring 

provides an assessment of water quality that integrates the 

effects of multiple stressors, including episodic events such as 

storms, which may result in chemical alterations from effluent 

discharged directly to the stream.

In 1999, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the DPW began a study to assess benthic-invertebrate 

and fish communities in the White River and selected tributaries 

in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area (fig. 1). Information 

gained from the assessment complements DPW’s chemical 

monitoring of surface waters. Evaluation of stream biota is one 

way to determine cumulative effects of urbanization because 

the aquatic organisms are affected by long-term exposure to a 

variety of environmental changes. The biological condition of 

these streams cannot be attributed only to effects from CSOs 

because the streams are affected to some extent by all pollutant 

sources entering them.

Many stream biota complete most or all of their life cycles 

in the water, thereby serving as continuous monitors of environmental quality. Biological integrity may be the most critical 

assessment of stream health because stream biota are subject to 

a full range of environmental influences (chemical, physical, 

and biological). To achieve the objectives of the Clean Water 

Act (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002), comprehensive information about the ecological integrity of aquatic 

environments is needed. Biological criteria can help to identify 

water-quality impairments, support regulatory controls that 

address water-quality problems, and assess improvements in 

water quality from regulatory efforts. 

Benthic invertebrates have limited mobility and can be 

used as indicators of the long-term effects of water quality 

in streams. Benthic invertebrates can be found in all but the 

most severely polluted habitats. Fish, however, may be absent 

because of natural or manmade causes such as dams or shallow 

riffles that obstruct their passage along a stream reach. Fish 

communities, although much more mobile than benthic invertebrates, also can represent water-quality conditions in a stream 

because of their sensitivity to a wide variety of environmental 

factors (such as habitat degradation, siltation, pesticides, nutrients, and changes in streamflow). Biological diversity can be 

affected by such factors as colonization rates, suitable habitat, 

extinction rates, competition, predation, physical disturbances, 

and pollution (Crowder, 1990).

One notable event on the White River during December 

1999 affected the fish and benthic-invertebrate communities in 

the study area. The accidental discharge of thousands of gallons 

of toxic chemicals into the White River at Anderson, Indiana, 

resulted in the death of an estimated 117 tons of fish along more 

than 50 miles of the White River from Anderson to south of 

Indianapolis (Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2000). In addition to the changes in the fish communities, 

the direct and indirect effect on the benthic-invertebrate community was not clear.

The White River fish kill was the result of excess amounts 

of chemicals used to treat wastewater from a metal-plating plant 

in Anderson being passed through a publicly owned wastewater-treatment plant and entering the river. The discharge 

occurred approximately 41 river miles upstream from the Nora 

site, the most upstream site sampled for this study. The suspected contaminant, sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, is 

altered to form a number of compounds such as carbon disulfide, dimethylamine, carbamates, and thiram when mixed with 

water. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management 

detected carbon disulfide in samples collected from the White 

River in and upstream from the study area, including at the 

intakes for the Indianapolis Water Company (Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2000).

In March and July 2000, Indiana Department of Natural 

Resources (DNR) biologists completed surveys of the affected 

part of the river and began restocking efforts in April. Nearly 
Introduction 3

Figure 1. 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.

MARION COUNTY

JOHNSON COUNTY

SHELBY COUNTY

MORGAN COUNTY

Stout

Harding

Fall

Creek

Nora

Williams

Creek

Morris

Pleasant Run

Pogues 

Run

Eagle

Creek

Whit e River

White

R iv e r

F all Creek

E agle Creek

P o g ue s Run

B e a n Creek

Creek

Lick

Pleasant Run

HAMILTON COUNTY

Eagle 

Creek 

Reservoir

Geist Reservoir

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Albers equal area projection

Standard parallels 29 30' and 45  ̊  ̊ 30', central meridian -86

INDIANAPOLIS

39 ̊37'57"

39 ̊55'23"

86 ̊19'35" 86 ̊04'36"

10 MILES

5 10 KILOMETERS

0

0

5

Buck

Creek

03352500

03353500

03353611

03353000

03353120

03361850

Williams

Creek

03351000

Ditch

Buck

Creek

Waverly

Wicker

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

 ̊

Area serviced by combined sewers

County boundary

Basin boundary

Low-head dam

EXPLANATION

03353120 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station

 and identification number 

 Sampling site and name Nora

INDIANA

State
4 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

2,000 adult game fish and 63,000 channel catfish (Ictalurus 

punctatus) fingerlings were released in the river in spring 2000. 

In October and November 2000, more than 475,000 fish were 

released at several sites between Anderson and Indianapolis. 

More than 100,000 additional adult and juvenile fish were 

released between April and November 2001. Restocked species 

included channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), flathead catfish 

(Pylodictis olivaris), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 

smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus), redear 

sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), and white crappie (Pomoxis

annularis) (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2003).

Purpose and Scope

This report describes the abundance and diversity of 

benthic-invertebrate and fish communities from 12 sites in the 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Area in Indiana, based on data collected during 1999–2001. Six sites were sampled on the White 

River and an additional six sites were sampled on selected tributaries in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. Results of the 

study provide an assessment of stream health in this urban area. 

The data complement water-chemistry data collected by DPW 

in the study area.

The methods of study are described and the collected data 

are presented in tables and graphs to compare changes at and 

among sites over the 3-year study period. The report evaluates 

data, using indices to assess the general health of the aquatic 

environment. Habitat conditions at sample sites are evaluated, 

using a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) developed 

by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). 

Benthic-invertebrate communities are assessed with the 

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) Index, 

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), and Invertebrate Community 

Index (ICI). Fish communities are assessed with Indices of 

Biotic Integrity (IBIs). Biological indices are described, and 

the results of the analyses are presented. Historical benthicinvertebrate data from three USGS studies conducted between 

1981 and 1996 are compared with data collected for this study, 

along with fish data previously collected in the White River 

Basin.

Previous Work

Benthic-invertebrate studies by the USGS were conducted 

intermittently since 1981 at sites in the study area. From 1981 

through 1987, three sites were sampled once a year (Crawford 

and others, 1992). From 1994 through 1996, 21 sites were sampled from two to six times and generally twice a year (Renn, 

1998; Voelker and Renn, 2000). The data from these studies 

were used to compare changes in the benthic-invertebrate community over a 20-year period (1981–2001).

No USGS fish studies have been done in the study area; 

however, Crawford and others (1996) presented a compilation 

of fish species historically found in the White River Basin. That 

compilation of fish data was used for comparison with the fish 

data collected from 1999–2001.

Description of Study Area

Incorporated with Marion County, Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and the largest city in the State. The 2000 Census 

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2001) reported a population of 860,454 

for Marion County. Approximately 41 mi2 of Indianapolis are 

serviced by a combined-sewer overflow (CSO) system. In this 

system, 134 CSOs discharge into the White River or its tributaries—23 CSOs discharge directly into the White River, 27 discharge to Fall Creek, 5 to Eagle Creek, 49 to Pleasant Run, 3 to 

Bean Creek, 24 to Pogues Run, 2 to State Ditch, and 1 to Lick 

Creek (fig. 1) (City of Indianapolis, 2000).

Indianapolis is in the central climate division (National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2001) and has a 

humid continental climate (Newman, 1966). The average 

annual temperature is about 53°F, and average monthly temperatures range from about 27°F in January to about 75°F in July. 

Precipitation averages about 41 in. a year. Annual runoff at the 

study sites ranged from about 12 in. to almost 16 in. during 

the study (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). The study 

area is encompassed by the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion 

(Woods and others, 1998) which extends from Indiana into 

Ohio and Michigan. Crop production (corn and soybeans) is 

the predominant land use in rural areas outside of Indianapolis 

(Simon and Dufour, 1997).

The drainage area of the White River above the confluence 

of the East Fork White River is 5,372 mi2. At the most downstream White River study site (Waverly, near river mile 211), 

the drainage area is 2,026 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975). The study 

extends upstream on the White River to a site near river mile 

248 (Nora), which has a drainage area of 1,219 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

1975). 

The USGS operates seven streamflow-gaging stations in 

the study area (fig. 1). Streamflow at those sites generally was 

low during the study period. Annual mean discharge during the 

study and annual mean discharge for the period of record at 

those sites are shown in table 1 (page 6). Annual mean discharge during the study was 52 to 75 percent of the annual mean 

discharge for the period of record at USGS streamflow-gaging 

stations in the study area. Low discharges recorded for the 2000 

water year were 13 to 64 percent of the annual mean discharge 

for the period of record. Detailed information on streamflowgaging stations is provided in the annual USGS Water-Data 

Report for Indiana (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). 

Methods of Investigation

This study involved sampling at 12 sites in the White River 

Basin. Six sites were on the White River, and six were on 

tributaries within the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. The 

selection of sampling sites is described. Physical habitats 

were evaluated at sampling sites, using a QHEI which also 
Methods of Investigation 5

is described. The collection and identification of benthic invertebrates and fish are discussed, as are the biological indices 

used to describe the condition of the benthic-invertebrate 

communities.

Selection of Sampling Sites

Eleven sites originally were sampled for benthic invertebrates and fish (fig. 1, table 2). These sites were selected to 

be coincident with DPW water-quality monitoring sites. In 

addition, sites where the USGS previously collected benthicinvertebrate data were selected to provide continuity of data and 

historical comparison among sites.

During the first year of data collection, the Buck Creek site 

was added during the second round of sampling for benthic 

invertebrates after the Pogues Run site was found to be dry. The 

site was selected to represent biological conditions on a stream 

draining the southeastern part of Marion County. Buck Creek is 

in the drainage area of the East Fork White River. During the 

second year of sampling (2000), the Buck Creek site was incorporated into the study plan. All of the sampling sites (fig. 1) 

except the Buck Creek tributary site were near DPW waterquality-monitoring sites and at sites where the USGS previously collected benthic-invertebrate data. 

Physical Habitats

Basin and habitat characteristics were reported at each 

study site, using parameters developed by the Ohio EPA (1989) 

to compute a QHEI score for each site (table 3 at back of report). 

The QHEI is a physical-habitat index designed to provide an 

empirical, quantified evaluation of the general stream-habitat 

characteristics important to the biological communities of 

streams (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1989). The 

QHEI is an index tool similar to the IBI and ICI in which 

selected characteristics, or metrics, are rated and then combined 

into a total score. Higher scores indicate better habitat conditions for biotic communities. The maximum score possible 

is 100. Stream characteristics include drainage area, land 

use, mean discharge, stream gradient, and basin description. 

Habitat characteristics include substrate; silt cover; extent of 

substrate embeddedness; instream cover; channel morphology; 

riparian zone; bank erosion; and pool, riffle, and run information. Scoring of these characteristics was used to arrive at 

a QHEI score for each site. 

Benthic Invertebrates

Benthic invertebrates are used to assess stream quality 

because they form less-mobile communities than fish and 

they are collected easily with relatively inexpensive methods. 

Benthic invertebrates can occupy all stream habitats, have 

a wide range of feeding preferences, and react quickly to environmental changes. The invertebrates are a major food source 

for fish and other aquatic species and occupy the middle of 

the aquatic food chain. Because of advances in taxonomic 

identification and increased knowledge of their tolerance to 

environmental and pollution stresses, benthic invertebrates 

have become excellent indicators of the biological integrity 

of streams and rivers (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 

1989). 

Benthic invertebrates were collected twice a year from 

1999 through 2001 during relatively steady-state, low-streamflow conditions. Information collected included sampling-site 

name, USGS sampling-site identification number, date and 

time of sampling, water temperature, specific conductance, 

dissolved-oxygen concentration, and pH at the time of sampling. Benthic-invertebrate samples were collected in May and 

September, during periods when most species are expected to 

be in early-age aquatic stages prior to their adult terrestrial 

stage. At each study site, samples were collected in habitat areas 

where the greatest diversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates were expected to occur (generally riffle areas). At the 

Morris and Harding sites on the White River, riffles were not 

present or not accessible, and the best available habitat (cobble 

or riprap in silty and somewhat pooled conditions) was sampled. Three samples were collected at each study site because 

this is the recommended minimum needed to determine the 

diversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates at a site 

(Britton and Greeson, 1988). 

Benthic-invertebrate samples were collected by use of 

Surber samplers that had a 0.0929-m2 sample grid and a collection-net bag-mesh opening of 210 μm. This mesh size has been 

recommended for collecting benthic invertebrates (Britton and 

Greeson, 1988). Surber samplers were placed on the streambed, 

and all the large surface materials within the sample grid were 

removed and placed in buckets for subsequent scrubbing. The 

area within the sample grid was scrubbed to remove benthic 

invertebrates attached to the substrate or embedded in the upper 

inch of the streambed sediments. Benthic invertebrates were 

preserved in 10-percent formalin and shipped to a contract 

laboratory for identification.

Benthic invertebrates were identified to the lowest taxonomic group possible—often genus and species. The total 

number of organisms, number of distinct taxa, and EPT Index 

scores were summarized for each of the three samples collected 

at each site. The results of the three samples were combined 

to determine the EPT, HBI, and ICI scores for the site. 

The total number of distinct taxa for each sampling site 

was calculated by resolving ambiguous taxa, then summing 

the unique taxa for each sample. For the purpose of this report, 

ambiguous taxa are those not identified to species; they were 

counted as a distinct taxon only if there were no reported 

individuals from the next-highest common taxonomic level. 

Possible reasons for inability to classify to species may be that 

the organism was damaged or only partially present in the sample, or that the organism was at a life stage that could not be 

classified to a lower taxon.

The EPT Index for each sampling site was calculated from 

the number of taxa in the orders of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, 

and Trichoptera. The EPT Index summarizes taxa richness 
Table 1. Discharge at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana (from Stewart and others, 2[ft3/s, cubic foot per second] Table 2. Benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001. [ddmmss, degrees minutes seconds; mi, mile] U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station U.S. Geological Survey station-identification number River-mile location upstream from mouth Annual mean discharge, in ft3/s Annua

Water year fo

1999 2000 2001 Period of re

White River near Nora, IN 03351000 247.9 1,084 507 960 1930–20White River at Indianapolis, IN 03353000 229.2 1,261 621 1,140 1931–20White River at Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, IN 03353611 226.3 1,544 770 1,442 1992–20Buck Creek at Acton, IN 03361850 4.1 60.1 42.8 70.6 1968–20Eagle Creek at Indianapolis, IN 03353500 7.1 116 20.2 104 1939–20Fall Creek at Millersville, IN 03352500 9.2 243 143 253 1930–20Pleasant Run at Arlington Avenue at Indianapolis, IN 03353120 7.9 5.96 5.19 6.63 1960–20

Sampling-site name Sampling-site identification number Latitude (ddmmss) Longitude (ddmmss) River-mile location upstream from mouth Drai

(squ

White River White River near Nora1, Ind.

1Short name used throughout text to identify sites is in BOLD type.

03351000 395435 860620 247.9 1

White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 3945050861030012

2Site formerly identified as U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station number 03353000.

394515 861026 230.3 1

White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 03353193 394505 861030 227.9 1White River below Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind. 394234086120900 394234 861209 226.2 1White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind. 393827086141701 393827 861417 220.2 1White River at Waverly, Ind. 03353660 393402 861518 211.0 2TributariesBuck Creek 1.2 mi downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind. 393749086030501 393749 855656 1.9 Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 394613086114700 394411 861148 1.2 Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 03352875 394720 861040 1.3 Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 394358086092100 394358 860921 1.2 Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 03352990 394617 860825 2.5 Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 03351072 395537 861020 4.8 
Methods of Investigation 7

within these pollution-sensitive insect groups; the index score 

increases with improved water-quality conditions. If identification to species was not possible and similar organisms from the 

next-highest classification were present, the assumption was 

made that those unidentified specimens were the same as those 

identified to lower taxa. 

A modified HBI (Hilsenhoff, 1987) was calculated, using 

the number of individuals in each family and a tolerance value 

for that family, summing the products, and dividing that sum by 

the total number of arthropods in the sample (which include the 

classes Insecta, Crustacea, and Arachnoidea). This index was 

developed to assess organic pollution through its effects on 

benthic-invertebrate communities. Possible index scores range 

from 0 to 10 and increase with decreasing water-quality conditions.

The ICI was developed by the Ohio EPA to provide a 

descriptive statistic that can be used to compare sites within 

a study area. The ICI consists of 10 structural and functional community metrics that describe the benthic-invertebrate 

community sampled. Those metrics include total number of 

taxa present; number of mayfly (Ephemeroptera), caddisfly 

(Trichoptera), and dipteran taxa present; percent mayfly 

(Ephemeroptera), caddisfly (Trichoptera), Tribe Tanytarsini 

midge composition, other dipteran and non-insect composition, 

and tolerant organisms; and total number of EPT taxa. The ICI 

was calculated for each site by combining the data from the 

three samples collected.

Fish

Fish communities were sampled annually, following 

guidelines established by the USGS National Water-Quality 

Assessment (NAWQA) Program (Meador and others, 1993). 

Fish sampling was done at most sites during July of each year. 

Two sites on the White River—Nora and Waverly—were 

sampled in November 1999 and September 2000, respectively. 

Two tributary study sites—Fall Creek and Buck Creek—were 

sampled in August 2001. Fish-community data were used to 

calculate IBI scores developed by Indiana (Simon and Dufour, 

1997) and Ohio (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1987) 

for the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion. 

Nearly identical stream reaches were sampled each year, 

with minor variations based on measurements and Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected each time fish sampling 

was done. Each IBI was calculated for the actual reach length 

sampled; however, for the purpose of discussion in the text and 

for locational information on the site maps, a mean reach length 

was calculated for each site.

Fish were collected with pulsed direct-current electroshocking techniques. Backpack or barge-mounted shocking 

equipment was used at wadeable streams, and shocking boats 

were used at nonwadeable sites. In the field, fish were identified 

by common name, weighed, and measured for length. The fish 

were inspected and any external anomalies (such as deformities, 

eroded fins, lesions and ulcers, tumors, anchor worms, black 

spot, leeches, fungus, ich, blindness, parasites, and popeye) 

were recorded. Black spot is not discussed in this report because 

its occurrence is a function of the presence of snails and not 

solely related to environmental degradation (Simon and 

Dufour, 1997). Typically, only the first 30 individual fish of 

each species collected at a site were measured and weighed. 

After that, the number of individuals of a species and their total 

weight were recorded before they were returned to the stream.

Fish not identified to species level in the field were identified in the USGS laboratory in Indianapolis. Voucher specimens (representatives of species collected from each sampling 

reach) either were photographed or preserved in 10-percent 

formalin and stored at the USGS laboratory in Indianapolis. 

Verification of the voucher specimens was done by Dr. Terry 

Keiser of Ohio Northern University. Taxonomic nomenclature 

followed that established by Robins and others (1991). Detailed 

fish data were collected at each site, including date sampled, 

method of collection, and electrofishing time in seconds. Data 

collected for individual specimens included name, voucher 

type, total and standard lengths, weight, and any observations 

of external anomalies on the fish. 

Two IBIs—the Ohio IBI and Indiana IBI—were used to 

evaluate the fish data for this study. Both IBIs were developed 

for the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion, which encompasses 

the study area and extends into a large part of Ohio. The Ohio 

IBI incorporates the 12 community metrics proposed by Karr 

(1981). The metrics used in the Indiana IBI (Simon and Dufour, 

1997) for analysis of surface-water designated-use attainment 

generally were developed from the metrics used by the State 

of Ohio (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1989). 

These metrics include species richness, composition, presence/

absence of indicator species, trophic and reproductive functions, and overall abundance and/or individual conditions 

(Simon and Dufour, 1997). IBIs can be considered a family 

of related indices rather than a single index. Differences between the Indiana and Ohio IBIs are related to how specific 

metrics might respond to a referenced condition. In Indiana, 

metrics were developed on a regional basis (Simon and Dufour, 

1997). In some cases, the Ohio metrics were more stringent, or 

methods for collecting fish (such as minimum distance sampled) resulted in differences in metric curves between the two 

IBIs (Simon and Dufour, 1997).

Because the IBIs are sensitive to differences in collection 

method and equipment, different expectations were developed 

for headwater streams (drainage area less than 20 mi2), wadeable rivers (drainage areas 20 to 1,000 mi2), and boat sites 

(drainage areas greater than 1,000 mi2). Two study sites, 

Pogues Run and Williams Creek, were considered as headwater 

sites; Buck Creek, Eagle Creek, Fall Creek, and Pleasant Run 

were calculated with metrics for wadeable sites. IBI scores for 

the six study sites on the White River were calculated as boat 

sites.

The IBIs rate different aspects of the fish community, 

based on quantitative expectations of what constitutes a fish 

community of high biotic integrity within a particular region or 

habitat type. IBI scores are based on fish-population informa-
8 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

tion to determine water-quality conditions relative to index 

sites. The IBI is based on the assumption that different fish exist 

in degraded waters, compared to waters that have not been 

degraded. The IBI combines measures of fish-community structure, function, and health; scores are assigned to the sampled 

community, relative to a reference community. With both IBIs, 

metric scores are combined; the higher the result, the healthier 

the aquatic ecosystem. Interpretation of the IBI metrics incorporates setting quantitative criteria along with some professional 

judgment (Simon and Dufour, 1997). Because of this, the interpretation of the index scoring should be limited to observing 

change with time at each study site or noting relative differences among sites in the study area.

Biological Assessment of Conditions 

at Study Sites

In this section of the report, each study site is described by 

location, habitat, and biology. Maps show the location of the 

study sites, and discharge is described if a USGS streamflowgaging station is at or near the site (table 1). Habitat conditions, 

based on the QHEI, and results of the benthic-invertebrate 

sampling and fish electroshocking also are described for 

each site.

The QHEI scores are shown in figure 2, and habitat 

characteristics are listed in table 3 (at back of report). Benthicinvertebrate data are summarized in tables 4 and 5 (at back of 

report); EPT, HBI, and ICI scores are presented in figures 3, 4, 

and 5, respectively. Information summarizing fish data are 

shown in tables 6, 7, and 8 (at back of report); scores for the 

Ohio and Indiana IBIs are presented in figures 6 and 7, respectively. Site-specific data for the benthic invertebrates are in 

tables 9 through 90; site-specific data for the fish are in tables 

91 through 125. These tables are in the appendix to this report.

White River near Nora, Ind.

The Nora site (fig. 8), at 86th Street in Indianapolis, is 

at river mile 247.9; the drainage area is 1,219 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

1975). The annual mean discharge at USGS streamflow-gaging 

station 03351000 (fig. 1) is 1,134 ft3/s for the period of record 

1930 through 2001 (table 1). The annual mean discharge during 

the study period was 1,084 ft3/s for 1999, 507 ft3

/s for 2000, and 

960 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). 

Benthic invertebrates were collected upstream from the station

Figure 2. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Area, Indiana, 2000.

White River sites Tributary sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Nora

Morris

Harding

Stout

Wicker

Waverly

Buck Creek

Eagle Creek

Fall Creek

Pleasant Run

Pogues Run

Williams Creek 

QHEI score
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 9

Figure 3. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) Index scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis 

Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.

White River sites

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Nora Morris Harding Stout Wicker Waverly

EPT Index score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01

Tributary sites

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run Williams

Creek

EPT Index score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01 Zero Not sampled Zero Not sampled
10 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Figure 4. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 

1999–2001.

White River sites

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nora Morris Harding Stout Wicker Waverly

HBI score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01

Tributary sites

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run Williams

Creek

HBI score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01 Not sampled Not sampled
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 11

Figure 5. Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, 

Indiana, 1999–2001.

White River sites 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nora Morris Harding Stout Wicker Waverly

ICI score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01

Tributary sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run Williams

Creek

ICI score

May-99 Sep-99 May-00 Sep-00 May-01 Sep-01 Not sampled Not sampled
12 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Figure 6. Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity (Ohio IBI) scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, 

Indiana, 1999–2001.

White River sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nora Morris Harding Stout Wicker Waverly

Ohio IBI score

1999 2000 2001

Tributary sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run Williams Creek

Ohio IBI score

1999 2000 2001

Not sampled
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 13

Figure 7. Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity (Indiana IBI) scores for sites sampled in the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.

 White River sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nora Morris Harding Stout Wicker Waverly

Indiana IBI score

1999 2000 2001

Tributary sites

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run Williams Creek

Indiana IBI score

1999 2000 2001

Not sampled
14 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

in an area dominated by cobble substrate and moderate, steady 

flow (table 3 at back of report). Fish were collected along a 

mean reach length of 2,008 ft downstream from the station. 

That reach was characterized by slow but even flows and a cobble and sand substrate. Depths in the downstream channel were 

fairly uniform across the river. The QHEI score of 63 (fig. 2) 

indicates that habitat conditions for this site were average, compared to the White River study sites.

Figure 8. Sampling locations at White River near Nora, Ind.

This site was the most upstream study site on the White 

River. Although it is upstream from the area potentially affected 

by CSOs and the area of greatest urban runoff, it also was most 

vulnerable to the effects of the December 1999 fish kill. The 

ICI scores at this site (32–38) were consistently higher than 

those for other study sites on the White River (8–32; fig. 5). The 

Ohio (36–42) and Indiana (34–44) IBI scores for the Nora site 

were similar to the other White River sites (34–50; figs. 6 and 

7). Both IBIs scored lowest at this site in 2000 (that sampling 

was done after the December 1999 fish kill and after initial 

restocking efforts to restore fish populations). The number of 

fish collected at the Nora site in 2000 was one-third of the number collected in 1999 (table 6 at back of report). Conversely, the 

abundance of benthic invertebrates at this site multiplied fourfold between the September 1999 and May 2000 sampling 

(table 5 at back of report). Although many intolerant species 

of benthic invertebrates were present in the May 2000 sample, 

there also was a large increase in the tolerant species. Spotfin 

shiners (Cyprinella spiloptera) and northern hog suckers 

(Hypentelium nigricans) predominated at the Nora site in 1999; 

they were virtually absent in 2000 when smallmouth bass 

(Micropterus dolomieu) and bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) 

each consisted of about 20 percent of the 61 fish collected. Silver shiners (Notropis photogenis), black redhorse (Moxostoma 

duquesnei), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were the 

predominant species at this site in 2001. EPT scores (10–15), 

HBI scores (4.9–6.8), and ICI scores (32–38) were the most 

favorable of the White River sites.

White River at Morris Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Morris site (fig. 9) at the Morris Street bridge in Indianapolis is at river mile 230.3; the drainage area is 1,635 mi2

(Hoggatt, 1975). The annual mean discharge at USGS streamflow-gaging station 03353000 (fig. 1), downstream from the 

study site at river mile 229.2, is 1,433 ft3/s for the 1931 through 

2001 period of record1. The annual mean discharge during the 

study period was 1,261 ft3/s for 1999; 621 ft3/s for 2000; and 

1,140 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). 

Benthic invertebrates were collected under the bridge near the 

left bank in an area of slow flow and silty substrate. Fish collection was along a 2,726-ft mean reach length that extended 

downstream from the Morris Street bridge and upstream to the 

Kentucky Avenue bridge. This reach included shallows, riffles, 

and runs. Some instream vegetation was found along both 

banks. The QHEI score of 69 (fig. 2) indicates that this site 

scored better than average among the White River study sites.

The Morris site is in an area serviced by CSOs. This site 

is the most upstream White River study site affected by CSO 

discharges, and it is downstream from where Pogues Run enters 

the White River. EPT (1–6), HBI (6.9–9.5), and ICI scores 

(14–28) at this site were less favorable than at the Nora site 

(fig. 5). IBI scores (Ohio, 40–42; Indiana, 40–46; figs. 6 and 7) 

indicate no change from the upstream site, although the number 

of fish and fish species collected at this site was much higher 

than at the Nora site (table 6 at back of report). This difference 

in number and species was particularly noticeable during the 

2000 sampling. Although gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) was the predominant species in 1999, this species almost 

disappeared from this site in 2000; its numbers, however, 

returned in 2001. The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and 

longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) dominated the fish population at the Morris site during the 2000 and 2001 sampling.

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging station number 03351000

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

0 FEET

0 600 METERS 

White

River

Keystone

Avenue

86th Street

82nd Street

1,000 2,000

N

East 79th Street

2,008 Feet

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

300 

Direction of flow

1USGS streamflow-gaging station 03353000 was moved 

downstream to the Raymond Street bridge during the 1999 

water year. Water-quality data collected at the Morris Street 

site are now stored under station-identification number 

394505086103001.
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 15

Figure 9. Sampling locations at White River at Morris 

Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

White River at Harding Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Harding site (fig. 10) is at river mile 227.9 in the 

vicinity of the Harding Street bridge over the White River. 

The drainage area at the site is 1,660 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975). During 1999 and 2000, benthic invertebrates were collected under 

the bridge along the right downstream bank. Because of bridge 

reconstruction, sampling for the benthic invertebrates was 

moved to the left downstream bank in 2001. The substrate from 

which the samples were collected was riprap that had been put 

in place for bank stability. Both areas where benthic-invertebrate samples were collected were in a pooled area affected by 

backwater from the dam downstream at the Stout Generating 

Station. This reach of the White River also receives treated and/

or raw wastewater discharges from the Belmont wastewatertreatment facility. These discharge points enter the pool 

just downstream from the benthic-invertebrate sampling location. Fish collection was done along a 2,372-ft mean reach 

length upstream from the bridge. This fish-collection site 

included pool and run habitat, with some relatively large areas 

in silty shallows. The QHEI score (55) for this site indicates that 

habitat conditions were the poorest among the White River 

study sites (fig. 2).

Figure 10. Sampling locations at White River at Harding 

Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

This site had conditions most similar to the Morris site. 

The most notable difference between this and other White River 

study sites was in the benthic-invertebrate community. EPT 

scores (0–5), HBI scores (7.8–9.6), and ICI scores (8–26) at 

this site were among the least favorable of all the White River 

study sites (figs. 3, 4, and 5). Invertebrate species collected at 

this site include ostracods and cladocerans, which reflect the 

limnetic, or slowly moving, characteristics of flow at this site. 

Ohio IBI scores (36–42; fig. 6) and Indiana IBI scores (38–42; 

fig. 7) were about average for sites on the White River. Gizzard 

shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), 

longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), and carp (Cyprinus carpio) were the dominant species of fish at this site, with the numbers of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and longear sunfish 

(Lepomis megalotis) increasing dramatically in 2000 (table 6 

at back of report). Almost five times as many largemouth bass 

(Micropterus salmoides) were collected in 2000, compared to 

1999; almost three times as many as were collected in 2001.

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging station number 03353000

(moved downstream in 1999 water year)

White

Kentucky

Avenue

West Morris Street

2,726 Feet

0 300 600 

0

N

1,000 2,000 FEET

METERS

R

vi er

70

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Direction of flow

 Street Harding

2,372 Feet

Belmont wastewatertreatment facility

0

0

2,000

600 METERS

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling sites

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

FEET

White

River

N

Direction of flow
16 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

White River below Stout Generating Station 

at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Stout site (fig. 11), at river mile 226.2, is approximately 300 ft downstream from the low-head dam at the Stout 

Generating Station. The dam is about 10 ft high and is constructed of large boulders and concrete slabs, with concrete box 

culverts to one side. The drainage area is 1,898 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

1975). Upstream from the sampling site at river mile 226.3 

is USGS streamflow-gaging station 03353611 (fig. 1); the 

annual mean discharge for the period of record 1992 through 

2001 is 1,821 ft3/s. The annual mean discharge was 1,544 ft3/s 

in 1999; it was 770 ft3/s in 2000 and 1,442 ft3/s in 2001 (Stewart 

and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). Benthic invertebrates were collected from a riffle area downstream from the dam, and fish 

were collected from that area and downstream along a mean 

reach length of 2,188 ft. Stream conditions along this reach 

included riffles and runs with cobble, gravel, and sand substrate, and silty shallows with pooled conditions. The QHEI 

score (58; fig. 2) for this site indicates that habitat quality was 

below average among the White River sites, yet slightly better 

than the Harding study site.

Figure 11. Sampling locations at White River below 

Stout Generating Station at Indianapolis, Ind.

Benthic-invertebrate conditions as noted in the EPT (4–8; 

fig. 3) and HBI (5.7–7.4; fig. 4) scores at this site indicate some 

improvement compared to the Morris and Harding sites. 

Although slight, some of this improvement may be attributed to 

less-silty bottom sediments or reaeration of the river as it flows 

over the low-head dam just upstream from the sampling site. 

ICI scores ranged from 12 to 30 at this site (fig. 5). The number 

of fish species collected at this site increased each year and, 

although the number of fish collected in 2000 was about twice 

that of 1999 (table 6 at back of report), the average weight of the 

fish was lower. River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio), longear 

sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were the dominant species at this site in 1999. In 2000, 

northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), 

shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum), and river 

carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) were the dominant species. 

About 20 percent of the catfish in 2000 had anomalies—more 

so than any other taxa at this site. In 2001, spotfin shiners (Cyprinella spiloptera) and river carpsuckers (Carpiodes carpio) 

were the dominant species at this site. IBI scores showed conditions were best during the 2000 sampling (figs. 6 and 7).

White River at Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

The Wicker site (fig. 12) is at river mile 220.2 near a large 

gravel bar along the left bank of the White River, downstream 

from where an extension of Wicker Road would intersect the 

river. The drainage area at this site is 1,947 mi2. Benthic invertebrates were collected near the upstream end of the gravel bar, 

and fish were collected from a 2,720-ft mean reach length of the 

river. The reach ranged from a riffle upstream from the gravel 

bar to just downstream from where a small unnamed tributary 

enters the White River on the left bank. This reach of the river 

consisted of a shallow run at the head that moved into a swiftflowing run with tree- and log-debris jams along the opposite 

bank from the gravel bar; the run opened to a deeper pool in the 

downstream area. The site scored about average in QHEI scores 

(63; fig. 2) among all the White River study sites.

The Wicker site had a lower abundance of benthic invertebrates (table 5 at back of report) than any of the other White 

River study sites, although the number of taxa were similar. 

EPT scores (2–9; fig. 3) at the site were slightly more variable 

than the HBI scores (5.6–8.4) at this site (fig. 4). ICI scores 

at Wicker (14–30), like those for the Stout and Waverly sites, 

indicate better conditions during the September sampling 

compared to the May sampling (fig. 5). Conditions of the fish 

community indicate that abundance was highest in 2000 for the 

3-year sampling period. Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) 

predominated in 1999 (table 6 at back of report); channel catfish 

(Ictalurus punctatus), northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans), and shorthead redhorse (Moxoxtoma macrolepidotum) 

were the dominant species in 2000. In 2001, the spotfin shiner 

(Cyprinella spiloptera) was collected most frequently at 

Lick Creek

River

White

Stout 

Generating

Station 

Dam

2,188 Feet

FEET

METERS

0

0

2,500

800

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging station number 03353611

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

N

Direction of flow
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 17

this site. Like the Stout site, IBI scores for the Wicker site 

(figs. 6 and 7) indicate conditions were best during the 2000 

sampling period.

Figure 12. Sampling locations at White River at 

Wicker Road near Southport, Ind.

White River at Waverly, Ind.

The Waverly site (fig. 13) is in the vicinity of where State 

Road 144 crosses the White River. The bridge is at river mile 

211.0, and the drainage area at the site is 2,026 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

1975). Benthic invertebrates were collected along the gravel bar 

that extended just upstream to downstream from the bridge. 

This gravel bar slowly had migrated downstream along the right 

bank during the study period. Fish were collected along a mean 

reach length of 2,956 ft, slightly farther downstream from 

where the benthic invertebrates were collected. The reach 

where fish were collected was characterized by riffles at the 

upstream end, with runs and pools in the downstream direction. 

Woody debris was noted sporadically along both banks. The 

QHEI score (71; fig. 2) at this site indicates that habitat conditions were the best of all the study sites on the White River.

The number of benthic-invertebrate taxa at Waverly 

remained consistent throughout the study, but the abundance 

varied (table 5 at back of report). EPT scores were fairly consistent at 6 (fig. 3); HBI scores ranged from 5.6 to 7.4 (fig. 4); 

ICI scores ranged from 18 to 32 (fig. 5). The number of fish 

(table 6 at back of report) collected at the Waverly site was the 

lowest of all the White River study sites, yet the average weight 

was the highest of all White River study sites. Sucker species 

were dominant—river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) and 

shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) in 1999; 

golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) in 2000. Suckers 

(Catostomidae) also dominated in 2001, although only 56 fish 

were collected. IBI scores (36–40) were similar to other sites on 

the White River.

Figure 13. Sampling locations at White River at 

Waverly, Ind.

Buck Creek 1.2 miles downstream from Maze Road 

near Brookfield, Ind.

The Buck Creek site (fig. 14) was added after the first 

round of benthic-invertebrate sampling and fish electroshocking was completed. The site is in a remote area at about river 

mile 1.9; the drainage area is about 82 mi2

 (Hoggatt, 1975) and 

drains into the East Fork White River. Discharge data on Buck 

White

River

Wicker Road

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

0

0

1,000

3,000

 METERS

 FEET

MARION COUNTY

JOHNSON COUNTY

MORGAN COUNTY

N

2,720 Feet

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Direction of flow

144

37

River

2,956 Feet

N

MORGAN COUNTY

JOHNSON COUNTY

White

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

0 500

0

METERS

800 FEET

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Direction of flow
18 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Creek is from the USGS streamflow-gaging station at Acton 

(03361850; fig. 1) at river mile 4.1, with a drainage area 

of 78.8 mi2. Annual mean discharge for the period of record 

(1968–2001) at the station was 91.5 ft3

/s; annual mean discharge was 60.1 ft3/s during 1999, 42.8 ft3/s for 2000, and 

70.6 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). Sampling for benthic invertebrates was done in a riffle near river 

mile 1.9, and fish collection extended from that riffle to a point 

about 732 ft downstream. This stream reach was characterized 

by steady flow along a lengthy run devoid of deep pools but 

with occasional boulders and woody debris that provided some 

protective habitat. An overhead forest canopy filtered sunlight 

along the stream reach. The habitat conditions at this site were 

slightly above the average among the tributary sites, based on 

the QHEI score (68; fig. 2) calculated in 2000.

Figure 14. Sampling locations at Buck Creek, 1.2 miles 

downstream from Maze Road near Brookfield, Ind.

Buck Creek—the only study site that is part of the East 

Fork White River drainage area—consistently had the greatest 

diversity in benthic invertebrates and fish communities. EPT 

(10–16; fig. 3), HBI (5.2–7; fig. 4), and ICI (30–50; fig. 5) 

scores indicate that the best benthic-invertebrate conditions of 

all the tributary study sites were at Buck Creek. It was the only 

site with ICI scores that indicate exceptional water-quality conditions. Ohio IBI scores (54–56; fig. 6) and Indiana IBI scores 

(52; fig. 7) also indicate water-quality conditions were among 

the most favorable of all study sites. Although the numbers of 

fish species collected at this site exceeded the others, the number of fish collected was similar to the number at most of the 

other tributary sites. Central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum), mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi), and sand shiners (Notropis stramineus) were the predominant species in 2000; in 2001, 

the number of mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) decreased dramatically (table 7 at back of report). Three individuals of the 

species northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus), listed as an 

Indiana species of special concern (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2002), were identified at the Buck Creek site 

(table 6 at back of report); one was collected in 2000 and two 

in 2001.

Eagle Creek at Raymond Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Eagle Creek site (fig. 15) was near river mile 1.2; 

the drainage area is 209 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975). Discharge data 

are available for this stream from the USGS streamflow-gaging 

station 03353500, Eagle Creek at Indianapolis (fig. 1). The gage 

is at river mile 7.1, with a drainage area of 174 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

1975). Annual mean discharge for the period of record (1939–

2001) is 155 ft3/s; it was 116 ft3/s during 1999, 20.2 ft3/s 

for 2000, and 104 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and others, 2000, 

2001, 2002).

Figure 15. Sampling locations at Eagle Creek at Raymond 

Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

Benthic invertebrates were collected just downstream 

from the Kentucky Avenue bridge over Eagle Creek where 

some cobbles and boulders occurred along this sandy section of 

stream channel. Fish were collected along a mean reach length 

of 787 ft downstream from the Raymond Street bridge. This 

JOHNSON COUNTY

MARION COUNTY

875 West

800 North

Buck

Creek

Maze Road

732 Feet

0

0

800 METERS

2,500 FEET

West

Little

Sugar

Creek

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

N

SHELBY COUNTY

Direction of flow

Avenue

Kentucky

Raymond Street

787 

Feet

650 METERS

2,100 FEET

0

0

Eagle

Creek

N

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

 Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

 American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Direction of flow
Biological Assessment of Conditions at Study Sites 19

reach was characterized by riffles and runs of various depths. 

Sand and gravel were the predominant substrate, and some 

woody debris and instream vegetation provided cover along 

sections of both banks. The five CSOs that discharge into Eagle 

Creek are upstream from the study site. The QHEI score (54; 

fig. 2) at this site was below average among all the tributary 

sites (45–82).

The condition of the benthic-invertebrate and fish communities at the Eagle Creek site was similar to most other tributary 

sites. EPT scores ranged from 7 to 11 (fig. 3), HBI scores 

ranged from 5.5 to 7.2 (fig. 4), and ICI scores ranged from 22 to 

38 (fig. 5). Ohio IBI scores ranged from 40 to 42 (fig. 6), and 

Indiana IBI scores were 48 for each year of the study period 

(fig. 7). IBI scores remained similar throughout the study 

period, indicating little change in overall conditions. Most notable at this site was the change in the predominant species of fish 

collected (table 7 at back of report). The three predominant species collected at this site were the longear sunfish (Lepomis 

megalotis), sand shiner (Notropis stramineus), and silverjaw 

minnow (Notropis buccatus). Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) numbered 252 of the 569 fish collected in 1999; they were 

314 of the 1,288 fish collected in 2000, and 115 of the 944 fish 

collected in 2001. In 1999, 49 sand shiners (Notropis stramineus) were collected; that number increased to 505 in 2000 

and decreased to 291 in 2001. Thirty-six silverjaw minnows 

(Notropis buccatus) were collected in 1999; 72 were collected 

in 2000; 312 were collected in 2001. 

Fall Creek at 16th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Fall Creek site (fig. 16) is just downstream from 

the 16th Street bridge at river mile 1.3. The drainage area for 

the site is 317 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975). The nearest USGS streamflow-gaging station on the creek (Fall Creek at Millersville, 

03352500; fig. 1) is at river mile 9.2; the drainage area is 

298 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975). Annual mean discharge for the period 

of record 1930 through 2001 is 289 ft3/s; it was 243 ft3/s for 

1999, 143 ft3/s for 2000, and 253 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and 

others, 2000, 2001, 2002). Benthic invertebrates were collected 

in the riffle area downstream from the bridge, and fish were collected from that point to a riffle about 830 ft downstream. The 

stream reach included swiftly flowing riffles to deep pools with 

occasional instream vegetation along the banks. This site scored 

the second highest QHEI (78; fig. 2) among all study sites, indicating that habitat conditions were better than at most other 

sites.

Based on the HBI scores (5.7–7.6; fig. 4), benthicinvertebrate conditions at this site are classified as fairly poor. 

The benthic-invertebrate community at this site was dominated 

by the dipterans (flies) and, in particular, the chironomids 

(midges), which resulted in decreased HBI scores. EPT scores 

ranged from 4 to 6 (fig. 3), and ICI scores ranged from 16 to 30 

(fig. 5). As measured through the IBIs (Ohio IBI scores of 46–

54 and Indiana IBI scores of 52–54; figs. 6 and 7), however, the 

fish conditions at this site rank among the best of the study’s 

tributary sites. Although this site had some of the fewest fish 

collected (table 7 at back of report) compared to other tributary 

sites, it was second only to Buck Creek in the number of species 

collected. Spotfin (Cyprinella spiloptera) and sand shiners

(Notropis stramineus) were the predominant species at this site 

in 1999; in 2000, approximately equal numbers of sand shiners 

(Notropis stramineus) and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) 

were the most numerous species collected; slightly fewer yet 

equal numbers of spotfin shiners (Cyprinella spiloptera) and 

northern hog suckers (Hypentelium nigricans) also were collected. Northern hog suckers (Hypentelium nigricans) were the 

predominant species in Fall Creek in 2001, followed by bluntnose minnows (Pimephales notatus) and the two shiner species.

Figure 16. Sampling locations at Fall Creek at 16th Street 

at Indianapolis, Ind.

Pleasant Run near South Meridian Street 

at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Pleasant Run site (fig. 17) is in the vicinity of the footbridge upstream from South Meridian Street. The site is 

near river mile 1.2, with a drainage area of 20.8 mi2 (Hoggatt, 

West 16th Street

0 900 METERS

0 2,000 FEET

Fall

Creek

White 

River

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

N

830 Feet

65

Direction of flow
20 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

1975). A USGS streamflow-gaging station on Pleasant Run 

at Arlington Avenue at Indianapolis (03353120; fig. 1) provided discharge information on the stream. The station is 

at river mile 7.9, and the annual mean discharge is 8.13 ft3/s for 

the period of record 1960 through 2001. Annual mean discharge 

for the study period was 5.96 ft3/s for 1999, 5.19 ft3/s for 2000, 

and 6.63 ft3/s for 2001 (Stewart and others, 2000, 2001, 2002). 

Benthic invertebrates were collected just upstream from the 

footbridge in an area characterized by a gravelly riffle. Fish 

were collected along a mean reach length of 581 ft that extended 

just downstream from the footbridge to a riffle area upstream. 

This reach was dominated by a sandy substrate, with alternating 

fairly shallow pools and riffles. Little vegetative cover occurred 

along the reach. Relative to other sites in the study area, Pleasant Run has the second least-favorable QHEI score (49; fig. 2).

Figure 17. Sampling locations at Pleasant Run near 

South Meridian Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

Of all the sites sampled, the largest number of CSOs (49) 

discharge directly into Pleasant Run. This site had relatively 

poor scores, indicated by the benthic-invertebrate community 

dominated by the dipterans (flies). EPT scores ranged from 2 to 

7 (fig. 3), HBI scores ranged from 6.7 to 7.9 (fig. 4), and ICI 

scores ranged from 10 to 32 (fig. 5). This site was slightly better 

than the Pogues Run site in the Ohio IBI scores (32–36; fig. 6) 

and Indiana IBI scores (30–36; fig. 7) used to describe the 

fish community. The predominant fish species at this site was 

the central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum), followed by 

creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus).

Pogues Run at Vermont Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Pogues Run site (fig. 18) is at river mile 2.5, with a 

drainage area of 8.87 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975)—the smallest of all 

the study sites. Although there is no USGS streamflow-gaging 

station on this stream, periods of no flow were observed in September 1999. These no-flow periods were characterized by a 

dry streambed with intermittent pools of shallow depth. Benthic 

invertebrates were collected in the immediate vicinity of the 

Vermont Street bridge. Fish were collected upstream from that 

site, just downstream from the Michigan Street bridge to a riffle 

about 466 ft upstream. The stream is dominated by a sand and 

gravel substrate in very shallow waters. An overhead wooded 

canopy filtered sunlight, and there was very little protective 

cover for fish along the reach. Poor habitat conditions are 

reflected by the low QHEI score (45; fig. 2) at this site, the lowest among all sites in the study area.

Figure 18. Sampling locations at Pogues Run at Vermont 

Street at Indianapolis, Ind. 

Madison 

 Avenue

West Raymond Street

South Meridian Street

Plea sant

Run

Bean Creek

N

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

581 Feet

1,375 METERS 

2,025 FEET 

0

0

Direction of flow

Pogues 

Run

Vermont Street

Michigan Street

466 Feet

150 METERS 

0 FEET

0

500

N

EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Aquaduct/tunnel

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Direction of flow
Comparisons among Sites 21

Based on samples of benthic invertebrates and fish, waterquality conditions on Pogues Run consistently were among the 

poorest of all sites throughout the study. The combination of 

periods of no flow along with the 24 CSOs that could discharge 

into the stream during wet weather probably had the largest 

effect on water-quality conditions at this site. Relatively few 

benthic invertebrates (table 5 at back of report)—most of which 

were tolerant species—coupled with the least number of species 

(7) and low numbers of fish (312–808) collected during the 

study (table 7 at back of report) are indicative of the poor waterquality conditions at the site. EPT scores ranged from 0 to 6 

(fig. 3), and HBI scores ranged from 6.6 to 8 (fig. 4). The ICI 

scores (4–36; fig. 5) and Ohio IBI scores (24–30; fig. 6), however, showed some improvement in biological conditions at the 

site during the study. Indiana IBI scores ranged from 28 to 34 

(fig. 7).

Williams Creek at 96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

The Williams Creek site (fig. 19) at 96th Street, like the site 

at Pogues Run, is on an ungaged stream. The drainage area is 

approximately 17 mi2 (Hoggatt, 1975) at about river mile 4.8. 

Benthic invertebrates were collected in a riffle area upstream 

from the bridge, and fish were collected along an 856-ft 

Figure 19. Sampling locations at Williams Creek at 

96th Street at Indianapolis, Ind.

mean reach length downstream from the 96th Street bridge. This 

reach is characterized by riffles and runs that have cobble 

and gravel substrate and some deep pools with sandy substrate. 

Protective habitat cover includes woody debris, boulders, and 

instream vegetation; a mix of filtered and direct sunlight 

reaches the stream. The highest QHEI score (82; fig. 2) among 

the tributary and White River study sites was determined for 

this site, reflecting good habitat.

Williams Creek had the second smallest drainage area 

among the study sites. This site, however, rated among the 

best tributary study sites, as shown by the IBI (Ohio IBI, 52–54, 

and Indiana IBI, 44–50; figs. 6 and 7) and ICI (32–46; fig. 5) 

scores. The benthic-invertebrate community at this site had EPT 

(7–12; fig. 3), HBI (5.4–6.5; fig. 4), and ICI scores that were 

better than most tributary sites, with only the Buck Creek site 

surpassing it. The fish population at Williams Creek was fairly 

diverse, and the number of fish collected was usually higher 

than for the other sites (table 7 at back of report). Central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) were the dominant species 

collected.

Comparisons among Sites

In this section, sites are compared, based on the physicalhabitat, benthic-invertebrate, and fish data. Biological-index 

scores are compared among all the sites, among the White River 

sites, and among the tributary sites as appropriate. Interpretation of the indices used in this study should be limited to 

comparisons among the study sites (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999). 

Physical Habitats

The QHEI scores for sites on the White River ranged from 

55 at Harding to 71 at Waverly; scores on the tributaries ranged 

from 45 on Pogues Run to 82 on Williams Creek (fig. 2). Average scores for both White River and tributary sites were 63. On 

the White River, the Harding and Stout sites scored lower than 

average and the Morris and Waverly scores were above average. Eagle Creek, Pleasant Run, and Pogues Run scored below 

average; Buck Creek, Fall Creek, and Williams Creek scored 

above average for the tributary sites. The QHEI was calculated 

on the basis of conditions during the 2000 fish electroshocking 

period. Habitat data are compiled in table 3 at the back of this 

report. No substantial changes in the physical habitat were 

observed at the sampling sites during the 3-year period; these 

were stable reaches of the streams, with no major floods during 

the study. 

Benthic-Invertebrate Communities

 During the 3-year study, 151 distinct taxon were identified. A summary list of all taxa identified is presented in 

600 METERS 

MARION COUNTY

HAMILTON COUNTY 96th Street

Willia ms

Creek

Mill Run

856 Feet

Springmill Road

91st Street

2,000 FEET EXPLANATION

Fish-sampling reach

Benthic-invertebrate sampling site

0

0

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 16

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

N

Direction of flow
22 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

table 4 (at back of report). A complete listing of the benthicinvertebrate data for each site is provided in the appendix to this 

report (tables 9–90). The total number of taxa was highest at the 

Buck Creek site, where 62 taxa were identified in the September 

1999 sample (table 5 at back of report). The highest number of 

taxa of all the White River study sites generally was at the Nora 

site. The May 1999 samples at the Pogues Run and Wicker 

Road sites represented the lowest diversity in samples collected 

during the study, with 18 and 19 taxa, respectively. Diversity 

generally was low at the Pleasant Run and Pogues Run tributary 

study sites and at the Harding, Stout, and Waverly sites on the 

White River.

Benthic-invertebrate data, including general information 

such as total number of taxa, abundance (organisms per square 

meter), percent Diptera taxa, and percent Diptera organisms, are 

summarized in table 5 (at back of report). Total taxa richness 

reflects the community health by measuring the number of taxa 

present. Dipterans are important because they generally have 

the greatest range of pollution tolerances for the benthic invertebrates and often are the predominant organism present in a 

sample (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1987).

Benthic-invertebrate abundance was highest in the May 

2000 sampling at the Nora site (table 5 at back of report). The 

highest abundance of benthic invertebrates for all the tributary 

study sites was at the Fall Creek site (May 1999; table 5 at back 

of report). On the White River, benthic-invertebrate abundance 

was generally lowest at the Wicker site; of the tributary sites, 

it was generally lowest at the Pogues Run site.

Dipterans generally made up the highest percent of organisms in the samples, accounting for more than one-third of the 

taxa identified at study sites (table 5 at back of report). At the 

Stout, Wicker, and Waverly study sites on the White River, 

dipterans generally made up about 45 percent of the taxa collected and more than 70 percent of all organisms identified in 

the samples. On average, dipterans made up more than 55 percent of the taxa and more than 70 percent of all organisms in the 

Pleasant Run and Pogues Run tributary-site samples (table 5 at 

back of report).

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index

In the White River, the EPT Index ranged from 0 in May 

2000 at the Harding site to 15 in May 2001 at the Nora site, indicating the best conditions were observed at the Nora site (fig. 3). 

The lowest number of observations of these pollution-sensitive 

species was at the Morris and Harding sites; there was some 

recovery of these species in the downstream reaches. The low 

number indicates a negative effect on the benthic invertebrates 

in the most urbanized reaches of the White River. EPT scores 

for tributary sites ranged from 0 at Pogues Run in May 1999 to 

16 at Buck Creek in September 2000 and May and September 

2001 (fig. 3). The greatest number of intolerant species was at 

the Buck Creek site. A higher number of these species occurred 

at Eagle and Williams Creeks than at most of the White River 

sites. The lowest number of intolerant species identified in the 

samples was at the Pogues Run site.

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

 HBI scores for sites on the White River ranged from 

4.9 (good water quality) at the Nora site in September 2001 

to 9.6 (very poor water quality) at the Harding site in September 1999 (fig. 4). The lowest HBI scores, which indicate low 

numbers of tolerant species, were calculated for the Nora site, 

the most upstream site on the White River. The highest HBI 

scores, and therefore the least favorable water-quality conditions (fig. 4), were at the Morris and Harding sites. HBI scores 

at those sites ranked conditions in the poor to very poor range. 

Downstream at the Stout site, HBI scores reflected some improvement in water-quality conditions, probably resulting in 

part from the reaeration of water flowing over the low-head 

dam at the Stout Generating Station just upstream from the 

benthic-invertebrate sampling site. Although improvement was 

noted, the Stout site ranked in the fairly poor category, based 

on HBI values. The fairly poor ratings continued through the 

downstream reaches sampled.

HBI scores at the tributary study sites ranged from 

5.2 (good) at the Buck Creek site in September 1999 to 8.0 

(poor) at the Pogues Run site in May 1999. Tolerant species 

in Buck, Eagle, and Williams Creeks indicate fair waterquality conditions in those tributaries (fig. 4). The highest 

HBI scores of all tributary study sites were at the Pogues 

Run site, followed closely by the Pleasant Run and Fall Creek 

sites. These tributary-site scores were lower than scores at the 

Morris and Harding sites on the White River, indicating better 

water quality on the tributaries compared to the White River.

Invertebrate Community Index

ICI scores at the White River sites ranged from 8 (poor 

water quality) at the Harding site, May 2000, to 38 (good) at the 

Nora site, September 1999 (fig. 5). The highest ICI scores of 

the White River study sites were at the Nora site, again indicating that water-quality conditions were good as the river enters 

the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. ICI scores at the remaining 

White River study sites, however, indicate that the waters were 

degraded as they moved through the downtown Indianapolis 

area and that conditions there were fair to poor. ICI scores 

showed slight improvement in the downstream reaches, indicating fair conditions.

The tributary sites ranged from 4 (poor) at Pogues Run, 

May 1999, to 50 (exceptional) at Buck Creek, September 2000 

and 2001 (fig. 5). The Buck Creek tributary site was the only 

site to achieve scores that indicate exceptional water-quality 

conditions, although one sample from May 2000 indicated 

fair conditions. The Williams Creek site showed generally good 

conditions, with ICI scores ranging from 32 to 47. ICI scores for
Comparisons among Sites 23

study sites on the tributaries that receive CSO flow (Fall Creek, 

Eagle Creek, Pleasant Run, and Pogues Run) ranged from 4 to 

38, indicating fair conditions.

Fish Communities

Species of fish identified during this study are listed in 

table 6 (at the back of report) for sites on the White River and 

in table 7 (at back of report) for the tributary sites. A complete 

listing of the fish data for each site (tables 91–125) is provided 

in the appendix to this report. A greater number of fish were collected at tributary study sites, but these generally were made up 

of smaller-sized species. A total of 74 species plus 3 hybrids 

were identified at sites in the White River and selected tributaries during 1999–2001. Of these, 52 species and 1 hybrid were 

identified at White River study sites, while 61 species plus 3 

hybrids were identified at tributary study sites. Thirty-nine 

species and one hybrid were common to both categories of sites. 

Carps and minnows (Cyprinidae) were the largest group 

of fish identified during the study, consisting of more than half 

(53 percent) of all the fish collected (tables 6 and 7 at back of 

report). They constituted more than 68 percent of all fish collected at the tributary study sites yet were less than 15 percent 

of those collected on the White River. Fish collected at the 

White River study sites were dominated by the sunfishes (Centrarchidae), 41 percent, and suckers (Catostomidae), 31 percent. 

The sunfishes (Centrarchidae) were 16 percent of the fish collected in tributaries and 23 percent of all the fish collected.

The most numerous species identified was the central 

stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)—collected only at tributary sites—which made up almost 25 percent of all specimens 

identified and more than 34 percent of the specimens collected 

on the tributaries. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and longear 

sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) each accounted for 8 percent of 

all specimens collected, followed by sand shiners (Notropis 

stramineus) (6 percent), creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus) 

(5 percent), and bluntnose minnows (Pimephales notatus) 

(9 percent). Fewer than 10 individuals of each of the following 

species were identified during the study: Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium), bowfin (Amia calva), koi carp (Cyprinus 

carpio), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), silverband 

shiner (Notropis slumardi), fathead minnow (Pimephales 

promelas), smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus), bigmouth 

buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), black buffalo (Ictiobus niger), 

black bullhead (Ameiurus melas), brindled madtom (Noturus 

miurus), northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus), western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), white bass (Morone chrysops), 

warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), fantail darter (Etheostoma caeruleum), banded darter 

(Etheostoma zonale), sauger (Stizostedion canadense), and 

walleye (Stizostedion vitreum). Of these, the koi carp (Cyprinus 

carpio) and the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) are 

nonnative species. The northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus) 

is classified as an Indiana species of special concern (Indiana 

Department of Natural Resources, 2002).

The number of fish species identified at each study site 

ranged from 7 at the Pogues Run site (1999–2001) to 41 at the 

Buck Creek site (2000) (table 7 at back of report). On the White 

River, the lowest number of fish species collected (14) was at 

the Nora site (2001) and the highest number (32) was at the 

Stout site (2001) (table 6 at back of report). The greatest number 

of individual fish collected at a site was 2,697 at Pleasant Run 

in 1999 (table 7 at back of report). At the Williams Creek site, 

2,325 individual fish were collected in 1999. The lowest numbers of fish collected at any site were 56 at the Waverly site in 

2001 and 61 at the Nora site in 2000. For the White River sites, 

the highest number of individuals collected was at the Morris 

site (1,012 in 2000). 

Although the number of individual fish collected was 

much higher at the tributary sites than at the White River sites, 

fish-body size was greater at the White River sites. The total 

weight of fish collected at each of the White River sites ranged 

from 17 kg at the Nora site (2000) to 289 kg at the Stout site 

(2001) (table 6 at back of report). The mean total weight for 

all White River sites was 120 kg. At the tributary sites, total 

weight ranged from 1.6 kg at the Pogues Run site (2000) to 

72.8 kg at the Fall Creek site (2001) (table 7 at back of report). 

Mean total weight of fish at all tributary sites was 25.4 kg.

Fish were checked for various anomalies while being measured and weighed. No incidence of anchor worms or ich was 

observed. Fungus was observed on one fish collected at the 

Williams Creek site during the 2000 sampling. The number of 

anomalies observed during the study was highest at the White 

River sites (table 8 at back of report). With the exception of 

the Nora and Waverly sites, anomalies were observed on fish 

from the White River study sites most frequently during the 

2000 sampling period. Most tributary sites exhibited the highest 

number of anomalies during the first year of sampling, with 

decreases in subsequent years. At the Pleasant Run site, anomalies were fewest in 1999 and highest in 2000. The highest 

number of anomalies observed at Buck Creek was in 2001 

(Buck Creek was not sampled in 1999).

Percentages of fish with anomalies generally were lower 

at tributary sites (less than 5.5 percent) than at White River sites 

(ranging from 1 to 27 percent). In the first year of the study, the 

highest percentage of fish with anomalies for the White River 

sites was observed at the Stout site. In subsequent years, there 

was a downstream shift in which site had the highest percentage 

of fish with anomalies: it was the Wicker site in 2000 and the 

Waverly site in 2001. It is unclear what caused this downstream 

change.

Occurrences of fish anomalies were higher in 2000 than in 

1999 at most sites on the White River. The greatest increase was 

in the number of lesions and ulcers, followed by leeches, eroded 

fins, blindness, popeye, and deformities. Only the number of 

observations of leeches and popeye continued to increase in 

2001, whereas the number of tumors and parasites decreased 

yearly from 1999 to 2001. Observations of deformities, eroded 

fins, lesions, and blindness were all highest in 2000 at the White 

River sites.
24 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Variation in observed anomalies at the tributary sites was 

less dramatic than at the White River sites. The number of parasites, however, decreased markedly from 1999 to 2000. The 

number of occurrences of any other anomaly differed by five or 

less between sample years. Overall throughout the sampling 

period, the number of observed anomalies was lower at the tributary sites than at the White River sites.

Among the anomalies observed, blindness was most 

noticeably observed in the catfishes (Ictaluridae). During 

the 2000 sampling, when the incidence of blindness was highest, nearly every blind fish observed was a catfish. The cause 

for this is unknown; the fact that catfish are bottom dwellers, 

coupled with the movement of contaminants related to the 

December 1999 fish kill on the White River, may in part explain 

the findings.

Interpretation of the data—particularly the IBIs—in this 

study was complicated by the December 1999 fish kill. IBI 

scores at the Nora site dropped in 2000, yet downstream study 

sites showed increased IBI scores in 2000. The Nora site was 

the study site most affected by the chemical spill; it was the farthest upstream study site on the White River, and it was in the 

area where many dead fish were collected and where restocking 

efforts were made. Although it is uncertain, part of the improved scores in the downstream reaches may be the result of 

fish migrating downstream to escape the area most affected by 

the chemical spill. This may have resulted in greater numbers of 

fish and fish species collected at the downstream sites in 2000.

Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity

Scores for the Ohio IBI ranged from 34 (fair) to 46 (good) 

for sites on the White River and from 24 (poor) to 56 (excellent) 

for tributary sites (fig. 6). The average Ohio IBI score was 40 

for the White River sites and 42.5 for the tributary sites. 

Ohio IBI scores for study sites along the White River 

showed slight variations in fish-community structure among 

the White River sites and with time at each site (fig. 6). The 

1999 data showed decreasing scores as the White River flows 

through Indianapolis, with some recovery downstream. In the 

year following the fish kill, scores decreased at the Nora site, 

the most upstream study site and the site that was most affected 

by the chemical spill. The Ohio IBI scores, however, indicate 

improved fish-community structure downstream in 2000. Only 

Waverly, the most downstream White River study site, remained the same as the previous year. One possible explanation 

for this may be that numerous fish moved downstream ahead of 

the spill until they could either move into tributaries or areas 

where water-quality conditions were favorable. This hypothesis 

is supported by the vastly higher abundance and higher total 

weights of fish (table 7 at back of report) collected at the Morris, 

Harding, and Stout sites during the second year of data collection. Ohio IBI scores for the 2001 White River sampling data 

were the most consistent, indicating that fish-community structures were similar throughout the study area.

Among the tributary sites, the fish communities at the 

Buck Creek, Fall Creek, and Williams Creek sites had the highest Ohio IBI scores, which were generally in the excellent range 

(fig. 6). The lowest scores were at the Pogues Run site, which 

rated poor to fair. The scores at that site, like those at the Fall 

Creek site, showed steady improvement in the fish community 

during the study. Ohio IBI scores at other tributary sites remained fairly stable during the 3-year study.

Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity

Indiana IBI scores ranged from 34 (poor) to 50 (good) on 

the White River and from 28 (poor) to 54 (good) for tributary 

sites (fig. 7). Average Indiana IBI scores were 42 for the White 

River sites and 43 for the tributaries. Indiana IBI scores for sites 

along the White River remained consistent (fig. 7), with only a 

slight decrease at the Harding site and at sites downstream from 

Indianapolis. There were no observable differences in scores 

among the White River sites. 

Based on Indiana IBI scores, conditions were stable at the 

tributary sites of Buck Creek, Eagle Creek, and Fall Creek. The 

Williams Creek site showed improved conditions from the first 

to the second year, possibly the result of fish moving into the 

tributaries during the 1999 fish kill. Scores from the Pleasant 

Run and Pogues Run sites were lower than those from the other 

tributary sites (fig. 7). Both of these streams enter the White 

River upstream from the Harding site, and conditions at these 

two sites may be the result of streamflow, water-quality conditions, and inflow from point and non-point sources on those 

tributaries. Both sites have periods of low flow during which 

time fish would need to move to pools of sufficient size for survival. The Pogues Run site was observed to have no flow during 

September 1999 and was not sampled. 

Comparisons to Previous USGS Studies 

The USGS has collected biological data in the White River 

drainage basin in the past. Benthic-invertebrate studies by the 

USGS were conducted as early as 1981 at some of the same 

locations sampled for this study. Fish studies by the USGS have 

been completed in the basin but not at these locations.

Benthic Invertebrates

Since 1981, the USGS has collected benthic invertebrates 

intermittently at three sites on the White River within the current study area—Westfield Boulevard (downstream from the 

Nora site), Stout, and Waverly. Sampling was done annually 

from 1981 through 1987 (Crawford and others, 1992), biannually from 1994 through 1996 (Renn, 1998; Voelker and Renn, 

2000), and biannually from 1999 through 2001 (this study). For 

this discussion, one annual sample—collected in the August 

through October time period—was plotted for comparison with 

the historical data. EPT scores (fig. 20) generally showed morerelative fluctuation over the period of record compared with the 
Summary 25

HBI scores (fig. 21); however, the EPT and HBI scores oscillated throughout the historical period, with no well-defined 

improved or diminished conditions throughout the study area. 

At the Nora site, EPT scores were consistently lowest 

during 1994–96 and consistently highest during 1999–2001. 

At the Stout site, scores were lowest during the early 1980s but 

showed improvement in the two most-recent sampling periods. 

The highest EPT scores at the Waverly site were in 1984, 1986, 

1987, and 1999; the lowest scores at that site were in 1981 and 

1982 (fig. 20).

Historically, HBI data at the Nora site indicate generally 

good conditions as the White River enters Marion County 

(fig. 21). At the Stout site, however, HBI scores consistently 

indicate fair to fairly poor conditions. At the Waverly site, HBI 

scores in the fair category indicate slightly better water quality 

compared to the Stout site, although the current study indicates 

fairly poor conditions in this reach. The data for all three study 

sites do not show any consistent trends in HBI scores throughout the historical period of sampling.

Results of sampling for benthic invertebrates, including 

the number of taxa and other characteristics of the benthicinvertebrate community, can be affected by differences in fieldsampling crew and taxonomists or even variation in application 

of the same protocols (M.S. Gurtz, U.S. Geological Survey, 

written commun., 2003). This may affect the EPT analysis over 

time. Therefore the EPT Index to total taxa ratio was calculated 

to compare EPT conditions over time (fig. 22). Using this 

method of analysis, the historical data indicate that ratios for 

the Stout site were consistently lower over time than for the 

Nora or Waverly sites, indicating more degraded water-quality 

conditions at the Stout site.

Fish

Crawford and others (1996) presented a compilation 

of fish species historically found in the White River Basin. 

Two species collected during 1999–2001—the Ohio lamprey 

(Ichthyomyzon bdellium) and the banded darter (Etheostoma 

zonale)—were not reported in that compilation. One species 

collected during this study, the northern studfish (Fundulus 

catenatus), is listed as an Indiana species of special concern 

(Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2002). Three individuals of this species were identified at the Buck Creek site 

(table 6 at back of report); one was collected in 2000 and two 

in 2001. 

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Office of Environmental 

Services, conducted a study from 1999–2001 to assess biological invertebrates and fish communities in the White River and 

selected tributaries in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. 

Twelve sites (six on the White River and six on tributaries) were 

sampled biannually for benthic invertebrates and annually for 

fish. This sampling information complements the Department 

of Public Works’ chemical monitoring of surface water in the 

area and is being used by the City of Indianapolis to determine 

control strategies to mediate the effect of combined-sewer overflows and other point and non-point sources of pollution on the 

water quality of receiving streams in the Metropolitan Area.

A total of 151 benthic-invertebrate taxon were identified 

in samples collected during 1999–2001 at sites on the White 

River and selected tributaries. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and 

Trichoptera Index scores for White River study sites ranged 

from 0 at the Harding site to 15 at the Nora site. The Nora site 

consistently scored the highest of all White River sites. Sites in 

the immediate vicinity of downtown Indianapolis (Morris and 

Harding) scored the lowest and indicate a negative effect on 

benthic-invertebrate communities in that reach. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index scores improved in 

the farthest downstream reaches, which indicate that waterquality conditions had improved. For the tributary sites, 

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Index values 

ranged from 0 at Pogues Run to 16 at Buck Creek.

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores ranged from 4.9 (good) to 

9.6 (very poor) at the White River sites and from 5.2 (good) 

to 8.0 (poor) at the tributary sites. The lowest scores among 

the White River sites were at the Nora site, which indicate lesstolerant species as the White River enters Marion County. The 

highest Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores were at the Morris and 

Harding sites, which indicate the least-favorable water-quality 

conditions of all White River sites. Of the tributary sites, 

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores for Buck, Eagle, and Williams 

Creeks indicate fair water-quality conditions. The highest 

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores, indicating relatively poor 

water-quality conditions, were at Pleasant Run and Pogues Run.

On the White River, the highest Invertebrate Community 

Index scores, which indicate the best benthic-invertebrate 

conditions, were at the Nora site. Conditions were fair to 

poor in the downtown Indianapolis area; scores indicate 

slight improvement in the downstream reaches of the study 

area. At the tributary sites, Buck Creek was the only site with 

exceptional water-quality scores. Williams Creek also had 

good scores. The remaining tributary sites, all of which have 

combined-sewer overflows, had fair conditions.

A total of 74 species and 3 hybrids of fish were identified 

during the study. The Cyprinidae (carps and minnows) was the 

largest group of fish identified, consisting of more than half of 

all fish collected. The most-numerous species was the central 

stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum), which made up almost 

25 percent of the fish collected. Collected during the study were 

two nonnative species—the koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the 

western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)—and a species classified as an Indiana species of special concern—the northern 

studfish (Fundulus catenatus).
26 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Figure 20. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) Index scores for selected sites in the Indianapolis 

Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1981–2001.

White River at Westfield Boulevard (1981–1987)

and at Nora (1994–2001)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999

2000

2001

EPT Index

White River at Waverly

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999

20002001

EPT Index

White River below Stout Dam

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

EPT Index

Zero

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampled

Not sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled
Summary 27

Figure 21. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) scores for selected sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 

1981–2001.

White River at Westfield Boulevard (1981–1987) 

and at Nora (1994–2001)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

White River below Stout Dam

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

White River at Waverly

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampled
28 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Figure 22. Ratio of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) Index scores to total taxa for selected sites in 

the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1981–2001.

White River at Westfield Boulevard (1981–1987)

White River near Nora (1994–2001)

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

EPT Index/Total Taxa Ratio

White River below Stout Generating Station

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

EPT Index/Total Taxa Ratio

White River at Waverly

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001

EPT Index/Total Taxa Ratio

Zero

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampledNot sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampled

Not sampledNot sampled

Not sampledNot sampled
Acknowledgments 29

For study sites on the White River, the number of fish species identified ranged from 14 at the Nora site to 32 at the Stout 

site; the number of individual fish collected ranged from 56 

at the Waverly site to 1,012 at the Morris site. The mean total 

weight of all fish collected at the White River sites for the 3-

year study was 120 kg. For the tributary study sites, the number 

of species ranged from 7 at Pogues Run to 41 at Buck Creek; 

the number of fish collected ranged from 312 at Pogues Run to 

2,697 at Pleasant Run. Fish collected at the tributary study sites 

were smaller (having a mean total weight of 25.4 kg) than those 

collected at the White River study sites.

Fish anomalies observed included deformities, eroded 

fins, lesions and ulcers, tumors, leeches, fungus, blindness, parasites, and popeye. The incidence of anomalies was observed 

more frequently at the White River sites. The percentage of 

anomalies was highest at the Stout site in 1999, at the Wicker 

site in 2000, and at the Waverly site in 2001. Anomalies were 

observed most frequently at the White River sites during 

the 2000 sampling. In general, most tributary sites exhibited the 

highest number of anomalies in 1999, with decreases in subsequent years. At Pleasant Run, however, anomalies were highest 

in 2000; at Buck Creek, most anomalies were observed in 2001.

Calculation of the Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity 

showed no apparent differences in scores among the White 

River sites. Among the tributary sites, however, scores from 

Pleasant Run and Pogues Run indicate conditions at those sites 

were less favorable than at the other tributary sites. Ohio Index 

of Biotic Integrity scores also showed small variations in fishcommunity structure for sites on the White River. During 1999, 

conditions degraded slightly downstream, with some recovery 

observed. In 2000, that trend was reversed, with conditions 

improving downstream. The exception was the Waverly site, 

which showed no change. In 2001, Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity scores remained consistent throughout the White River 

sites. Among the tributary sites, Pogues Run had the lowest 

Index of Biotic Integrity scores; Buck, Fall, and Williams 

Creeks rated the highest.

Interpretation of the fish data is complicated by the major 

fish kill of December 1999 that resulted from a chemical spill 

into the White River near Anderson, Indiana. That spill caused 

the death of an estimated 117 tons of fish. Fish were killed along 

more than 50 miles of the White River, extending from Anderson downstream to Indianapolis. Index of Biotic Integrity 

scores at the Nora site dropped in 2000, yet downstream study 

sites showed increased Index of Biotic Integrity scores in 2000. 

The Nora site was the study site most affected by the chemical 

spill; it was the farthest study site upstream on the White River, 

and it was in the area where dead fish were collected. Although 

it is uncertain, part of the improved scores in the downstream 

reaches may be the result of fish migrating downstream to 

escape the area most affected by the chemical spill. This may 

have resulted in greater numbers of fish and fish species collected at the downstream sites in 2000.

Since 1981, the U.S. Geological Survey has collected 

benthic invertebrates intermittently at or near three sites (Nora, 

Stout, and Waverly) on the White River. Historically, benthicinvertebrate data at the Nora site indicate generally good conditions as the White River enters the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Area. At the Stout site, benthic-invertebrate data indicate that 

conditions were more degraded than at the other two sites. At 

the Waverly site, data indicate slightly better water quality than 

at the Stout site, although conditions were not as good as at the 

Nora site. 

Fish data collected during this study also were compared 

to a compilation of fish species historically found in the White 

River Basin. Two species collected in this study—the Ohio 

lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) and the banded darter 

(Etheostoma zonale)—were not reported in that compilation. 

Acknowledgments

Dr. Terry Keiser of Ohio Northern University was especially helpful in providing the use of electrofishing boats and 

serving as the resident ichthyologist to verify fish-voucher 

specimens collected during the study. Jeffrey Frey of the USGS 

was instrumental in conducting the electrofishing field activities because of his knowledge of the electrofishing equipment 

and his ability to identify fish species. Paul Werderitch was 

invaluable as the primary contact at the Indianapolis Department of Public Works for assisting with study-site selection 

and access. Several homeowners were gracious enough to allow 

access to sampling sites through their properties, for which the 

author was extremely grateful.

Selected References

Baker, N.T., and Frey, J.W., 1997, Fish community and habitat 

data at selected sites in the White River Basin, Indiana, 

1993–95: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96–

653A, 44 p.

Britton, L.J., and Greeson, P.E., 1988, Methods for collection 

and analysis of aquatic biological and microbiological samples: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the 

U.S. Geological Survey, book 5, chap. A4, p. 37–40.

City of Indianapolis, 2000, Improving our streams in the City of 

Indianapolis, a report on options for controlling combined 

sewer overflows: prepared by Quandt Engineering, Camp 

Dresser & McKee Inc., and Greeley and Hansen Engineers, 

accessed March 15, 2001, at URL www.indygov.org/dpw/

cso/cso_plan/index.htm

Crawford, C.G., Wangsness, D.J., and Martin, J.D., 1992, 

Recovery of benthic-invertebrate communities in the White 

River near Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, following implementation of advanced treatment of municipal wastewater: 

Archiv fur Hydrobiologie, v. 126, p. 67–84.

Crawford, C.G., Lydy, M.J., and Frey, J.W., 1996, Fishes of 

the White River Basin, Indiana: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 96–4232, 8 p. 
30 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Crowder, Larry B., 1990, Community Ecology, in Schreck, 

C.B., and Moyle, P.B., eds., Methods for fish biology: American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Md., p. 609–632, accessed 

June 19, 2003, at URL www.fisheries.org/publications/

catbooks/mfb.htm 

Cuffney, T.F., Gurtz, M.E., and Meador, M.R., 1993, Methods 

for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the 

National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93–406, 66 p.

Hilsenhoff, W.L., 1987, An improved biotic index of organic 

stream pollution: The Great Lakes Entomologist, v. 20, no. 1, 

p. 31–39.

Hoggatt, R.E., 1975, Drainage areas of Indiana streams: 

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, 321 p.

Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff, 1983, Combined 

sewer overflow water quality impact analysis, City of 

Indianapolis: Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff, 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant No. C180885 

01 [variously paged].

Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2000, 

Executive summary of the case filed by Indiana and the 

U.S. EPA against Guide and Crown, accessed June 19, 2003, 

at URL http://www.in.gov/idem/mycommunity/wrcac/

whiteriver/summary.html

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2002, Rare animals 

of Indiana, accessed March 7, 2003, at URL http://

www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/endangered/fish.htm

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2003, White River 

announcements, accessed September 17, 2003, at URL 

http://www.in.gov/dnr/public/summary.htm

Karr, J.R., 1981, Assessment of biotic integrity using fish 

communities: Fisheries, v. 6, p. 21–27.

Meador, M.R., Cuffney, T.F., and Gurtz, M.E., 1993, Methods 

for sampling fish communities as part of the National WaterQuality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 93–104, 40 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2001, 

Location of US climate divisions, accessed August 18, 2003, 

at URL http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/USClimate/map.html

Newman, J.E., 1966, Bioclimate, in Lindsey, A.A., ed., Natural 

features of Indiana: Indianapolis, Indiana Academy of 

Science and Indiana State Library, p. 171–180.

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1987, Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life, Volume II. Users manual 

for biological field assessment of Ohio surface waters: Ohio 

Environmental Protection Agency [variously paged]. 

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 1989 (first update), 

Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life, Volume 

III. Standardized biological field sampling and laboratory 

methods for assessing fish and macroinvertebrate communities: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, [variously 

paged]. 

Renn, D.E., 1998, Benthic-invertebrate and streambedsediment data for the White River and its tributaries in and 

near Indianapolis, Indiana, 1994–96: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 98–533, 159 p.

Robins, C.R., Bailey, R.M., Bond, C.E., Brooker, J.R., Lachner, 

E.A., Lea, R.N., and Scott, W.B., 1991, Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada (5th 

ed.): Bethesda, Md., American Fisheries Society, Special 

Publication No. 20, 183 p.

Simon, Thomas P., 1998, Introduction—Biological integrity 

and use of ecological health concepts for application to water 

resource characterization, in Simon, Thomas P., ed., Assessing the sustainability and biological integrity of water 

resources using fish communities: CRC Press LLC, p. 3–16.

Simon, Thomas P., ed., 1998, Assessing the sustainability and 

biological integrity of water resources using fish communities: CRC Press LLC, 671 p.

Simon, T.P., and Dufour, Ronda, 1997, Development of Index 

of Biotic Integrity expectations for the Ecoregions of Indiana—V. Eastern Corn Belt Plain: Chicago, Ill., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 905-R-96/002, 68 p.

Stewart, J.A., Keeton, C.R., Hammill, L.E., Nguyen, H.T., and 

Majors, D.K., 2000, Water resources data—Indiana, water 

year 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report 

IN-99–1, 386 p.

Stewart, J.A., Keeton, C.R., Hammill, L.E., Nguyen, H.T., and 

Majors, D.K., 2001, Water resources data—Indiana, water 

year 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report 

IN-00–1, 472 p.

Stewart, J.A., Keeton, C.R., Hammill, L.E., Nguyen, H.T., and 

Majors, D.K., 2002, Water resources data—Indiana, water 

year 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report 

IN-01–1, 700 p.

Sturm, R.H., and Gilbert, R.H., 1978, Soil survey of Marion 

County, Indiana: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil 

Conservation Service, and Purdue University Agricultural 

Experiment Station, 63 p.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, Indiana, accessed April 17, 2001, 

at URL http://www.census.indiana.edu/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999, Combined sewer 

overflows, Guidance for monitoring and modeling, EPA 832-

B-99-002, [variously paged], accessed June 19, 2003, at URL 

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sewer.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, Clean Water 

Act, accessed March 4, 2003, at URL http://www.epa.gov/

region5/water/cwa.htm

Voelker, D.C., and Renn, D.E., 2000, Benthic invertebrates and 

quality of the streambed sediments in the White River and 

selected tributaries in and near Indianapolis, Indiana, 1994–

96: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 99–4276, 52 p.

Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Brockman, C.S., Gerber, T.D., 

Hosteter, W.D., and Azevedo, S.H., 1998, Ecoregions of 

Indiana and Ohio, scale 1:1,500,000, accessed July 3, 2003, 

at ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/oh_in/ohin_eco_lg.pdf
Tables 3–8
Table 3. Habitat characteristicsa for benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001. [U, undercut banks; S, shallows; B, boulders; A, aquatic macrophytes; W, logs or woody debris; O, overhanging vegetation; P, pools; RW, rootwads; RM, rootmats; R, residential, park, newfield; Ur, urban or industrial; OP/R, open pasture/rowcrop; Sh, shrub or oldfield; P=R, pool width equals riffle width; P>R, pool width greater than riffle width; cm, centimeter; >, greater than; <, less than] Site Substrate Substrate quality Instream habitat cover Dominant Subdominant Silt quality Extent of embeddedness Extent Types present White River sites Nora Cobble Sand Normal Normal Sparse U,S,B,A,W Morris Cobble Silt Moderate Moderate Moderate U,O,P,RW,B,A,W Harding Silt Cobble Moderate Moderate Sparse U,O,S,RM,P,RW,B,A,W Stout Gravel Sand Moderate Moderate Sparse O,P,B,A,W Wicker Cobble Gravel Normal Moderate Moderate U,S,B,A,W Waverly Cobble Gravel Moderate Normal Moderate U,O,RM,P,RW,B,W Tributary sites Buck Creek Gravel Cobble Normal Normal Sparse U,O,S,P,RW,B,A,W Eagle Creek Sand Gravel Normal Extensive Sparse U,O,S,P,B,A,W Fall Creek Cobble Sand Normal Normal Moderate U,O,RM,P,RW,B,A,W Pleasant Run Sand Gravel Normal Moderate Sparse U,O,S,RW Pogues Run Sand Gravel Heavy Normal Normal U,O,S,RW,A Williams Creek Cobble Gravel Moderate Normal Moderate U,O,S,RW,B,A,W
Table 3. Habitat characteristicsa for benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Co[U, undercut banks; S, shallows; B, boulders; A, aquatic macrophytes; W, logs or woody debris; O, overhanging vegetation; P, pools; RW, rootwads; RM, rootmats; R, residentinewfield; Ur, urban or industrial; OP/R, open pasture/rowcrop; Sh, shrub or oldfield; P=R, pool width equals riffle width; P>R, pool width greater than riffle width; cm, centime>, greater than; <, less than]

Site Channel morphology Riparian width Flood-plain land use

Sinuosity Development Channelization Stability Left bank Right bank Left bank Right b

White River Sites

Nora None Fair None High Very Narrow Narrow Rear ReMorris Low Good None High Moderate Narrow Ur UrHarding Low Good None Moderate Narrow Narrow Ur UrStout Low Good None Moderate Moderate Moderate Ur UrWicker None Good None Moderate Moderate Moderate OP/R OPWaverly Low Fair None Moderate Moderate Moderate Sh Sh

Tributary Sites

Buck Creek Moderate Excellent None Moderate Moderate Moderate OP/R OPEagle Creek Normal Excellent Recovering High Narrow Narrow Ur UrFall Creek Moderate Excellent Recovered High Moderate Moderate R UrPleasant Run Low Fair Recovered Moderate Very Narrow Very Narrow R RPogues Run Low Fair Recovering Moderate Very Narrow Very Narrow Ur UrWilliams Creek Moderate Excellent None Moderate Narrow Moderate R R
Table 3. Habitat characteristicsa for benthic-invertebrate and fish-community sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Co[U, undercut banks; S, shallows; B, boulders; A, aquatic macrophytes; W, logs or woody debris; O, overhanging vegetation; P, pools; RW, rootwads; RM, rootmats; R, residentiindustrial; OP/R, open pasture/rowcrop; Sh, shrub or oldfield; P=R, pool width equals riffle width; P>R, pool width greater than riffle width; cm, centimeter; >, greater than; <, l

aHabitat characteristics based on the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (1989). Site Bank erosion Pool/glide and riffle/run quality Left bank Right bank Maximum depth Morphology Current velocity Riffle depth Run depth Substrate 

White River sites Nora Moderate Little >1 meter P=R Moderate to slow >10 cm >50 cm Stable 

Morris None None >1 meter P>R Moderate to slow >10 cm >50 cm Stable Harding Moderate Moderate >1 meter P>R Slow >10 cm >50 cm Stable Stout Little Little >1 meter P=R Moderate to slow 5–10 cm >50 cm Stable Wicker Little Heavy .7–1 meter P=R Fast to moderate >10 cm >50 cm Moderate Waverly Moderate Little .4 –.7 meter P=R Moderate to slow >10 cm >50 cm Moderate 

Tributary sites Buck Creek Little Little .7–1 meter P>R Fast to slow >10 cm >50 cm Moderate 

Eagle Creek Little Little >1 meter P>R Moderate >10 cm >50 cm Unstable Fall Creek Little Little >1 meter P>R Fast to slow >10 cm >50 cm Stable Pleasant Run Little Little .7–1 meter P>R Moderate to slow <5 cm >50 cm Moderate Pogues Run Little Little .2–.4 meter P>R Slow <5 cm >50 cm Unstable Williams Creek Moderate Moderate >1 meter P>R Fast to slow 5–10 cm >50 cm Stable 
Benthic-Invertebrate Taxa Collected 35

Table 4. Benthic-invertebrate taxa collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.

[w.h.c., with hair chaetae; w.o.h.c., without hair chaetae]

Phylum Class Order Family Taxon

COELENTERATA Hydrozoa Hydroida Hydridae Hydra americana

PLATYHELMINTHES Turbellaria Tricladida Planariidae Cura foremanii

PLATYHELMINTHES Turbellaria Tricladida Planariidae Dugesia tigrina

NEMATODA unidentified unidentified unidentified unidentified

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Unionoida Unionidae Lampsilis siliquoida

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Corbiculidae Corbicula fluminea

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Sphaeriidae Musculium sp.

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Sphaeriidae Musculium transversum

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Sphaeriidae Pisidium sp.

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Sphaeriidae Sphaerium sp.

MOLLUSCA Bivalvia Veneroida Sphaeriidae Sphaerium cf. simile

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Mesogastropoda Pleuroceridae Elimia sp.

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Mesogastropoda Pleuroceridae Pleurocera cf. canaliculata

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Mesogastropoda Pleuroceridae Pleurocera sp.

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Basommatophora Ancylidae Ferrissia rivularis

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Basommatophora Lymnaeidae Fossaria sp.

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Basommatophora Planorbidae Menetus dilatatus

MOLLUSCA Gastropoda Basommatophora Physidae Physella sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Enchytraeidae unidentified

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Lumbricidae unidentified

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Chaetogaster sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Dero sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Nais sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Nais bretscheri

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Nais communis

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Ophidonais serpentina

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Paranais sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Pristinella sp.

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Slavina appendiculata

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Stylaria lacustris

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Naididae Vejdovskyella intermedia

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Tubificidae w.h.c. unidentified

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Tubificidae w.o.h.c. Limnodrilus cervix

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Tubificidae w.o.h.c. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Haplotaxida Tubificidae w.o.h.c. Branchiura sowerbyi

ANNELIDA Oligochaeta Lumbriculida Lumbriculidae Lumbriculus sp.

ANNELIDA Hirudinea Branchiobdellida unidentified unidentified

ANNELIDA Hirudinea Rhynchobdellida Erpobdellidae unidentified

ANNELIDA Hirudinea Rhynchobdellida Glossiphoniidae Helobdella stagnalis

ARTHROPODA Arachnoidea Acariformes Hygrobatidae Atractides sp.

ARTHROPODA Arachnoidea Acariformes Lebertiidae Lebertia sp.

ARTHROPODA Arachnoidea Acariformes Sperchonidae Sperchon sp.
36 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Table 4. Benthic-invertebrate taxa collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.— 

Continued

[w.h.c., with hair chaetae; w.o.h.c., without hair chaetae]

Phylum Class Order Family Taxon

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Ostracoda unidentified unidentified

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cladocera Bosminidae Bosmina sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cladocera Chydoridae Alona sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cladocera Daphnidae Ceriodaphnia sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cladocera Daphnidae Daphnia sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cladocera Sididae Sida crystillina

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Copepoda unidentified unidentified

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Calanoida unidentified unidentified

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Cyclopoida unidentified unidentified

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Isopoda Asellidae Caecidotea sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Isopoda Asellidae Lirceus sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Amphipoda Crangonyctidae Crangonyx sp.

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Amphipoda Talitridae Hyalella azteca

ARTHROPODA Crustacea Decapoda Cambaridae Orconectes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Collembola Isotomidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Acentrella ampla

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis intercalaris

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Callibaetis sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Leucrocuta sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenacron interpunctatum

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenonema sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenonema femoratum

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenonema terminatum

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Isonychiidae Isonychia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Polymitarcyidae Ephoron leukon

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Potamanthidae Anthopotamanthus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Ephemeroptera Tricorythidae Tricorythodes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Odonata Aeshnidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Odonata Coenagrionidae Argia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Odonata Gomphidae Erpetogomphus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Perlesta placida

ARTHROPODA Insecta Plecoptera Perlodidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Plecoptera Taeniopterygidae Taeniopteryx sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Hemiptera Corixidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Megaloptera Corydalidae Corydalus cornutus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Megaloptera Sialidae Sialis sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Glossosomatidae Protoptila sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Helicopsychidae Helicopsyche borealis

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Ceratopsyche sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Ceratopsyche morosa

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Cheumatopsyche sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Hydropsyche sp.
Benthic-Invertebrate Taxa Collected 37

Table 4. Benthic-invertebrate taxa collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.— 

Continued

[w.h.c., with hair chaetae; w.o.h.c., without hair chaetae]

Phylum Class Order Family Taxon

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Hydropsyche betteni gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Hydropsyche venularis

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Potamyia flava

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Hydroptilidae Hydroptila sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Leptoceridae Ceraclea sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Leptoceridae Nectopsyche sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Philopotamidae Chimarra sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Philopotamidae Chimarra obscurus 

ARTHROPODA Insecta Trichoptera Rhyacophilidae Rhyacophila sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Lepidoptera Pyralidae Petrophila sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Dytiscidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Ancyronyx variegata

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Dubiraphia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Optioservus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Stenelmis sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Hydrophilidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Coleoptera Psephenidae Psephenus herricki

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Ceratopogonidae Bezzia/Palpomyia gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Ablabesmyia mallochi

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Ablabesmyia rhamphe gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Brillia flavifrons

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cardiocladius obscurus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Chironomus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cladotanytarsus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Conchapelopia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Corynoneura sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cricotopus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cricotopus bicinctus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cricotopus sylvestris

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cricotopus tremulus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cricotopus trifascia

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Cryptochironomus fulvus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Dicrotendipes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Dicrotendipes lucifer

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Eukiefferiella sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Eukiefferiella devonica gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Glyptotendipes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Limnophyes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Microtendipes sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Microtendipes pedellus gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Nanocladius sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Nilotanypus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Orthocladius sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Parachironomus sp.
38 Biological Assessment of Streams in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001

Table 4. Benthic-invertebrate taxa collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.— 

Continued

[w.h.c., with hair chaetae; w.o.h.c., without hair chaetae]

Phylum Class Order Family Taxon

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Parakiefferiella sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Parakiefferiella bathophila

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Paramerina sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Parametriocnemus lundbecki

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Paratanytarsus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Phaenopsectra sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum convictum

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum fallax

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum flavum (convictum)

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum halterale

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum illinoense

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Pseudochironomus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Psectrocladius sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Rheocricotopus robacki

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Rheotanytarsus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Saetheria tylus

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Stempellinella sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Stictochironomus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Tanytarsus sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Thienemannimyia gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Thienemanniella xena

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Tvetenia bavarica gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Tvetenia discoloripes gp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Chironomidae Zavrelia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Dolichopodidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Empididae Hemerodromia sp. 

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Muscidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Psychodidae Psychoda sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Simuliidae Simulium sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae unidentified

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Antocha sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Limonia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Ormosia sp.

ARTHROPODA Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Tipula sp.
Table 5. Summary data for benthic invertebrates collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.[m2, square meter; Sept., September; --, not sampled]

Site

Total taxa Abundance (organisms/m2)

May 1999 Sept. 1999 May 2000 Sept. 2000 May 2001 Sept. 2001 May 1999 Sept. 1999 May 2000 Sept. 2000 May 

White River sites

Nora 41 40 43 46 48 42 36,084 33,655 129,778 21,205 30,Morris 40 33 28 43 36 45 5,145 49,755 6,021 28,865 14,Harding 38 23 31 43 33 29 18,873 22,009 7,675 70,300 20,Stout 23 28 39 29 38 39 17,370 64,864 10,434 11,962 73,Wicker 19 41 29 42 41 43 15,758 11,119 8,988 3,606 6,Waverly 32 32 33 29 38 31 14,621 46,454 13,807 1,224 6,

Tributary sites

Buck Creek -- 62 56 57 58 61 -- 11,406 35,453 11,022 15,Eagle Creek 32 37 50 42 37 41 27,416 28,546 22,364 12,228 48,Fall Creek 30 32 34 40 32 35 79,140 46,095 39,568 30,990 15,Pleasant Run 20 34 25 32 37 34 26,031 29,694 27,391 5,070 13,Pogues Run 18 -- 25 37 32 44 36,684 -- 20,319 8,127 4,Williams Creek 51 37 43 48 48 42 24,388 7,380 65,610 9,400 20,

Site Diptera (percent taxa) Diptera (percent organisms)

May 1999 Sept. 1999 May 2000 Sept. 2000 May 2001 Sept. 2001 May 1999 Sept. 1999 May 2000 Sept. 2000 May 

White River sites

Nora 34.1 40 27.9 30.4 29.2 31 75.8 35.8 40.7 50.1 53Morris 42.5 36.4 42.8 34.9 50 33.3 68.1 84.2 78.9 11.4 36Harding 34.2 26.1 32.2 20.9 36.4 37.9 65.1 86.1 62.6 4.4 43Stout 52.2 39.3 38.5 48.3 36.8 48.7 95.9 46.7 83.3 61.9 85Wicker 63.2 39 44.8 42.8 48.8 41.9 97.7 58 88.2 61.9 83Waverly 53.1 40.6 36.4 58.6 47.4 38.7 92.4 43.4 91.2 66 92

Tributary sites

Buck Creek --1

1Buck Creek was not sampled in May 1999; it was added to the second round of sampling after Pogues Run was found to have no flow.

43.5 42.8 40.4 36.2 44.3 --1 44.2 52.5 54.9 76

Eagle Creek 50 43.2 40 39 40.5 39 92.3 82 88.2 46.6 79Fall Creek 56.7 43.8 32.4 47.5 46.9 48.6 89.3 39.4 65.2 26.6 50Pleasant Run 65 44.1 44 50 70.3 58.8 69.7 86.4 77.7 92.6 70Pogues Run 50 --2

2Pogues Run was not sampled in September 1999 because of no flow.

64 54 56.2 69.9 77.6 --2 69 82.9 56

Williams Creek 49 40.5 41.9 45.8 50 50 75.4 17.2 78.5 35 73
Table 6. Fish collected at the White River sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001. [N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; --, not found; kg, kilogram] Scientific name Common name and status White River, Nora White River, Morris Street White River, Harding Street White River, below Stout White River, Wicker Road 

1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Amiidae (Bowfins) Amia calva (Linnaeus, 1766)1 Bowfin -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- Clupeidae (Herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur, 1818) Gizzard shad 1 12 25 109 5 101 55 10 36 27 36 56 100 16 6 Cyprinidae (Carps and minnows) Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) Goldfish N -- -- -- -- 2 10 2 1 2 2 -- 4 -- -- -- 

Cyprinella spiloptera (Cope, 1868) Spotfin shiner 37 -- 5 26 8 48 4 1 44 9 4 169 34 11 132 

Cyprinella whipplei Girard, 1856 Steelcolor shiner -- -- -- 8 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 17 -- -- 

Cyprinus carpio Lin- naeus, 1758 Koi carp N -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 Common carp N 211 5 36 13 28 32 20 22 13 34 29 11 7 

Luxilus chrysocephalus Rafinesque, 1820 Striped shiner -- -- -- -- -- 7 -- -- 4 -- -- 3 -- -- -- 

Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill, 1814) Golden shiner -- -- -- -- -- 5 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis amblops (Rafinesque, 1820) Bigeye chub -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque, 1818 Emerald shiner -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis photogenis (Cope, 1865) Silver shiner -- 5 35 -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- Notropis stramineus (Cope, 1865) Sand shiner 21 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 -- 2 -- -- 3 Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard, 1856) Suckermouth minnow -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- 

Pimephales notatus 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Bluntnose minnow 16 -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- 8 -- 5 -- -- 1 

Semotilus atromaculatus 

(Mitchill, 1818) Creek chub -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Table 6. Fish collected at the White River sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued[N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; --, not found; kg, kilogram]

Scientific name Common name and status White River, Nora White River, Morris Street White River, Harding Street White River, below Stout White River, Wicker Road 

1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Catostomidae (Suckers)

Carpiodes carpio 

(Rafinesque, 1820) River carpsucker -- 4 -- 31 9 40 11 28 14 58 53 160 27 10 35 

Carpiodes cyprinus 

(Lesueur, 1817) Quillback -- 1 -- 17 2 11 2 3 4 -- 26 15 7 12 35 

Carpiodes velifer 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Highfin carpsucker -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 4 5 -- -- -- 

Catostomus commersoni

(Lacepede, 1803) White sucker -- 1 -- -- 2 4 -- -- 1 -- 1 -- 2 -- 1 

Hypentelium nigricans 

(Lesueur, 1817)

Northern 

hog sucker 46 4 3 10 8 1 -- 15 -- 1 157 10 23 41 -- 

Ictiobus bubalus 

(Rafinesque, 1818) Smallmouth buffalo -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Ictiobus cyprinellus

(Valenciennes, 1844) Bigmouth buffalo -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 2 -- -- -- -- 

Ictiobus niger 

(Rafinesque, 1819) Black buffalo -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- 2 -- -- -- 

Minytrema melanops 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Spotted sucker 10 4 18 6 35 31 22 26 5 8 34 20 4 10 5 

Moxostoma anisurum 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Silver redhorse 1 -- 2 3 17 12 -- 3 -- -- 17 12 19 7 22 

Moxostoma duquesnei 

(Lesueur, 1817) Black redhorse 7 2 31 25 38 2 1 6 2 8 15 4 4 8 13 

Moxostoma erythrurum

(Rafinesque, 1818) Golden redhorse 2 1 -- 32 23 20 11 -- 2 11 17 7 20 19 9 

Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Lesueur, 1817) Shorthead redhorse -- -- -- -- 3 -- -- -- -- 20 59 22 29 40 25 

Ictaluridae (Bullhead catfishes)

Ameiurus natalis

(Lesueur, 1819) Yellow bullhead -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 

Ictalurus punctatus 

(Rafinesque, 1818) Channel catfish -- -- 1 6 5 1 7 5 -- 5 72 23 5 45 7 

Pylodictis olivaris

(Rafinesque, 1818) Flathead catfish -- -- -- -- 2 1 2 3 -- 2 3 -- -- -- -- 

Atherinidae (Silversides)

Labidesthes sicculus 

(Cope, 1865) Brook silverside 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Table 6. Fish collected at the White River sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued [N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; --, not found; kg, kilogram] Scientific name Common name and status White River, Nora White River, Morris Street White River, Harding Street White River, below Stout White River, Wicker Road 

1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Percichthyidae (Temperate basses) Morone chrysops (Rafinesque, 1820) White bass -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7 -- -- 

Morone mississippiensis Jordan and Eigenmann, 1887 Yellow bass -- 2 -- 3 2 -- 3 -- -- 1 2 -- 6 3 -- 

Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817) Rock bass -- -- -- -- 1 1 -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- 

Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) Pumpkinseed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 17 -- 1 -- Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819 Green sunfish -- -- -- -- 8 1 1 3 -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier, 1829) Warmouth -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- Lepomis humilis (Girard, 1858) Orangespotted sunfish -- -- -- -- 21 -- -- 4 -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 Bluegill 2 6 15 34 386 171 52 294 18 41 67 23 6 12 6 Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque, 1820) Longear sunfish 6 1 8 32 280 110 31 244 19 49 36 51 12 20 9 Lepomis macrochirus X Lepomis megalotis HYBRID bluegill X longear sunfish -- -- 1 1 36 7 -- 64 7 -- 29 -- -- 4 -- Lepomis microlophus (Gunther, 1859) Redear sunfish -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede, 1802 Smallmouth bass 28 14 8 8 9 6 -- 3 1 1 13 4 7 11 6 Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque, 1819) Spotted bass 3 -- -- 11 33 42 16 18 10 4 11 9 1 14 7 Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) Largemouth bass 1 3 4 8 29 18 7 33 12 10 20 12 3 6 7 Pomoxis annularis 

Rafinesque, 1818 White crappie -- -- -- 1 -- -- 3 1 -- 6 1 3 2 1 -- 

Pomoxis nigromaculatus 

(Lesueur, 1829) Black crappie -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 1 -- -- 7 -- -- 3 
Table 6. Fish collected at the White River sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued[N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; --, not found; kg, kilogram]

1Authority and date of the original published proposal of the scientific name. The author’s name follows the scientific name and without parenthesis if the species, when origin

assigned to the same genus in which it appears; if the species was described in another genus, the author’s name appears in parenthesis (Robins and others, 1991).

Scientific name Common name and status White River, Nora White River, Morris Street White River, Harding Street White River, below Stout White River, Wicker Road 

1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Percidae (Perches)

Etheostoma zonale

(Cope, 1868) Banded darter -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Percina caprodes 

(Rafinesque, 1818) Logperch -- -- -- 4 1 -- -- -- 1 2 8 4 1 1 2 

Stizostedion canadense 

(Smith, 1834) Sauger -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 

Stizostedion vitreum

(Mitchill, 1818) Walleye -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Sciaenidae (Drums)

Aplodinotus grunniens 

Rafinesque, 1819 Freshwater drum -- -- -- 2 8 5 -- 6 2 -- 2 2 1 -- -- 

Total number of fish 184 61 157 382 1,012 672 264 805 208 299 719 690 366 304 341 Number of taxa 16 15 14 22 29 27 22 23 23 25 30 32 24 23 21 Total weight (kg) 25.3 17.0 23.9 110 233 176 109 167 95.2 127 199 289 163 114 113 
Table 7. Fish collected at the White River tributary sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001. [N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; SC, species is on the Indiana list of special concern; --, not found; kg, kilogram] Scientific name Common name and status Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run 

2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Petromyzontidae (Lampreys) Ichthyomyzon bdellium (Jordan, 1885)1 Ohio lamprey 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Clupeidae (Herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur, 1818) Gizzard shad -- -- 10 -- 1 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Cyprinidae (Carps and minnows) Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque, 1820) Central stoneroller 349 169 2 21 18 20 32 41 1,781 747 459 428 253 129 

Cyprinella spiloptera (Cope, 1868) Spotfin shiner 10 11 -- 46 29 172 73 80 3 -- 1 -- -- -- Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 Common carp N 1 1 5 2 2 11 4 9 -- -- 5 -- -- -- Luxilus chrysocephalus Rafinesque, 1820 Striped shiner 12 22 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- Lythrurus umbratilis (Girard, 1856) Redfin shiner 2 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Nocomis micropogon (Cope, 1865) River chub -- -- -- -- -- 4 -- 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill, 1814) Golden shiner -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 Notropis amblops (Rafinesque, 1820) Bigeye chub 21 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque, 1818 Emerald shiner -- 10 -- -- -- 9 49 16 -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis boops Gilbert, 1884 Bigeye shiner 1 61 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis buccatus (Cope, 1865) Silverjaw minnow 4 3 36 72 312 -- -- -- 211 52 16 53 12 11 Notropis photogenis (Cope, 1865) Silver shiner 1 3 -- -- -- -- 3 24 -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis rubellus (Agissiz, 1850) Rosyface shiner 15 1 -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- Notropis slumardi 

(Girard, 1856) Silverband shiner -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Notropis stramineus

(Cope, 1865) Sand shiner 109 125 49 505 291 132 95 76 130 76 26 -- -- -- 
Table 7. Fish collected at the White River tributary sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued[N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; SC, species is on the Indiana list of special concern; --, not found; kg, kilogram]

Scientific name Common name and status Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run 

2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Phenacobius mirabilis 

(Girard, 1856) Suckermouth minnow 5 2 -- -- -- 3 5 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Cyprinidae continued (Carps and minnows)

Pimephales notatus 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Bluntnose minnow 45 29 27 5 7 25 20 80 77 21 8 133 2 21 

Pimephales promelas 

Rafinesque, 1820 Fathead minnow -- -- -- -- 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- 

Rhinichthys atratulus 

(Hermann, 1804) Blacknose dace -- -- -- 6 -- -- -- -- 135 82 32 8 35 -- 

Semotilus atromaculatus 

(Mitchill, 1818) Creek chub 82 49 7 1 22 -- 2 4 303 134 103 112 137 101 

Catostomidae (Suckers)

Carpiodes carpio 

(Rafinesque, 1820) River carpsucker -- -- 17 -- -- 6 4 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Carpiodes cyprinus 

(Lesueur, 1817) Quillback -- -- 2 -- -- 4 -- 9 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Carpiodes velifer 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Highfin carpsucker -- -- -- -- -- 1 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Catostomus commersoni

(Lacepede, 1803) White sucker 11 55 31 63 35 1 1 -- 48 19 28 -- -- -- 

Hypentelium nigricans 

(Lesueur, 1817) Northern hog sucker 78 99 21 20 8 35 71 109 1 3 -- -- -- -- 

Minytrema melanops 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Spotted sucker 4 -- 1 -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Moxostoma anisurum 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Silver redhorse 7 2 -- -- -- 12 33 22 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Moxostoma duquesnei 

(Lesueur, 1817) Black redhorse 25 25 11 2 1 8 22 23 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Moxostoma erythrurum

(Rafinesque, 1818) Golden redhorse 22 9 -- -- -- 6 7 21 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Moxostoma macrolepidotum

(Lesueur, 1817) Shorthead redhorse 7 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Ictaluridae (Bullhead catfishes)

Ameiurus melas

(Rafinesque, 1820) Black bullhead -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 

Ameiurus natalis

(Lesueur, 1819) Yellow bullhead 2 2 2 5 1 -- -- 2 1 -- 1 -- -- -- 

Ictalurus punctatus 

(Rafinesque, 1818) Channel catfish -- -- 8 2 2 3 4 12 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Noturus miurus 

Jordan, 1877 Brindled madtom 1 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Table 7. Fish collected at the White River tributary sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued [N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; SC, species is on the Indiana list of special concern; --, not found; kg, kilogram] Scientific name Common name and status Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run 

2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque, 1818) Flathead catfish -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Cyprinodontidae (Killifishes) Fundulus catenatus (Storer, 1846) Northern studfish SC 1 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Poeciliidae (Livebearers) Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard, 1853) Western mosquitofish N -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Atherinidae (Silversides) Labidesthes sicculus (Cope, 1865) Brook silverside -- -- -- -- 1 2 -- 14 -- -- -- -- -- -- Cottidae (Sculpins) Cottus bairdi Girard, 1850 Mottled sculpin 175 53 -- -- -- 4 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Percichthyidae (Temperate basses) Morone mississippiensis Jordan and Eigenmann, 1887 Yellow bass -- -- -- -- -- 9 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817) Rock bass 7 5 1 3 6 8 6 9 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) Pumpkinseed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819 Green sunfish 23 19 31 56 5 3 11 5 -- -- -- 70 34 43 Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier, 1829) Warmouth 1 -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Lepomis humilis (Girard, 1858) Orangespotted sunfish -- -- -- -- -- -- 13 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 Bluegill 7 8 11 69 10 24 34 58 1 5 5 -- -- -- Lepomis megalotis 

(Rafinesque, 1820) Longear sunfish 54 67 252 314 115 30 94 37 2 -- 3 -- -- -- 

Lepomis macrochirus X

Lepomis megalotis

HYBRID bluegill X 

longear sunfish -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Lepomis macrochirus X

Lepomis gibbosus

HYBRID bluegill X 

pumpkinseed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 
Table 7. Fish collected at the White River tributary sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001.—Continued[N, nonnative species deliberately or accidentally introduced into the basin; SC, species is on the Indiana list of special concern; --, not found; kg, kilogram]

1Authority and date of the original published proposal of the scientific name. The author’s name follows the scientific name and without parenthesis if the species, when orig

was assigned to the same genus in which it appears; if the species was described in another genus, the author’s name appears in parenthesis (Robins and others, 1991).

Scientific name Common name and status Buck Creek Eagle Creek Fall Creek Pleasant Run Pogues Run 

2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 1999 2000 2001 

Micropterus dolomieu 

Lacepede, 1802 Smallmouth bass 4 -- 2 9 31 18 16 14 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Centrarchidae continued (Sunfishes)

Micropterus punctulatus 

(Rafinesque, 1819) Spotted bass 3 2 35 50 31 26 16 3 -- 4 3 4 -- 6 

Micropterus salmoides

(Lacepede, 1802) Largemouth bass 2 1 4 -- 12 10 16 17 2 -- -- -- -- -- 

Percidae (Perches)

Etheostoma blennioides 

Rafinesque, 1819 Greenside darter 67 62 -- 1 1 1 9 43 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Etheostoma caeruleum 

Storer, 1845 Rainbow darter 10 37 -- 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Etheostoma flabellare 

Rafinesque, 1819 Fantail darter -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Etheostoma nigrum 

Rafinesque, 1820 Johnny darter 16 3 -- -- -- 2 -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Etheostoma spectabile

(Agassiz, 1854) Orangethroat darter 21 -- 1 29 -- -- -- -- 2 5 7 -- -- -- 

Etheostoma zonale

(Cope, 1868) Banded darter -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Percina caprodes 

(Rafinesque, 1818) Logperch 4 16 -- -- -- 1 4 33 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Percina maculata 

(Girard, 1859) Blackside darter 12 2 -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Etheostoma caeruleum X 

Etheostoma spectabile

HYBRID rainbow X 

orangethroat darter 19 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Sciaenidae (Drums)

Aplodinotus grunniens 

Rafinesque, 1819 Freshwater drum -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 6 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Total number of fish 1,241 969 569 1,288 944 594 658 787 2,697 1,151 697 808 474 312 2Number of taxa 41 36 25 23 23 33 30 32 14 14 14 7 7 7 Total weight (kg) 34.7 23.2 34.1 28.5 24.6 46.6 60.0 72.8 6.2 4.9 3.7 2.9 1.6 3.2 
Table 8. Number of anomalies observed on fish collected at sampling sites in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, Indiana, 1999–2001. [DE, deformities; ER, eroded fins; LE, lesions and ulcers; TU, tumors; CL, leeches; FU, fungus; NE, blind; PA, parasites; PE, popeye; --, not sampled] Site name Anomalies observed 1999 2000 2001 DE ER LE TU CL FU NE PA PE DE ER LE TU CL FU NE PA PE DE ER LE TU CL White River sites Nora 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Morris 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 3 2 4 2 2 0 5 3 4 1 0 1 1 0 Harding 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 13 0 1 7 7 1 0 0 2 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 Stout 1 10 2 1 0 0 0 15 0 0 12 15 1 4 0 3 5 2 0 13 1 0 8 Wicker 1 11 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 1 21 2 0 9 0 1 3 2 0 9 0 0 8 Waverly 0 13 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 5 

Totals 3 35 5 6 0 0 3 39 5 6 48 28 5 15 0 11 19 11 1 24 5 1 21 

Tributary sites Buck Creek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 

Eagle Creek 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 1 1 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Fall Creek 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 7 2 3 1 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 Pleasant Run 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Pogues Run 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Williams Creek 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Totals 1 7 5 3 0 0 2 17 3 5 5 5 2 3 1 1 1 0 0 9 0 3 1