Highlighting engaging educational articles on water science, nature, and species, along with important MBI news.
Feb 5th, 2026
2026 Big & Little Darby Creek Conservation
Dec 9th, 2025
MBI Completes a New and Revised “Ohio Stream Guide!”
Nov 3rd, 2025
Get to know our 2025 Crews
Mar 17th, 2023
A Snapshot of “Ancient” Mussels in Central Ohio
Jun 25th, 2021
Shining Star Roger Thoma Retires
Jun 8th, 2021
Best of luck, Blair!
Oct 31st, 2017
Disco Wasn't the Only Bad Thing about the 70s
Publications
Explore our newest educational content about freshwater ecosystems, fascinating species, and more.
Feb 5th, 2026
2026 Big & Little Darby Creek Conservation
Dec 9th, 2025
MBI Completes a New and Revised “Ohio Stream Guide!”
Nov 12th, 2025
Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Roberts Millikin Ditch, Barbee Ditch, and Dry Run Subwatersheds 2024
Nov 3rd, 2025
Get to know our 2025 Crews
Dec 23rd, 2024
MBI/2023-7-15
Relationships and Thresholds for Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Variables, Nutrient Effects, and Biological Attributes in Northeast Illinois Rivers and Streams
Dec 17th, 2024
MBI/2024-3-1
Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Upper Des Plaines River 2022
Browse our complete library of publications organized by type - from educational articles to comprehensive technical research.
Need help with technical terminology? Our glossary provides clear definitions of key terms used in freshwater science and environmental research.
The level of a particular pollutant, physical characteristic, or condition of a biological assemblage presumed to support or protect the designated use or uses of a waterbody. Criteria may be narrative or numeric and are commonly expressed as a chemical concentration, a physical parameter, or a biological assemblage endpoint.
Stream gradient is the elevation drop of a stream between two point. It is not measured as part of the cQHEI, but is included in the QHEI. In the QHEI the gradient measure is known as a “map gradient” and is measured by measuring the distance between two contour lines on a 7.5 minute topographic map in a segment that includes the QHEI. Thus it is not a local gradient at a site, but more of an average gradient in the vicinity of a site. For QHEI it is score differently for different sized streams based on fish species responses to map gradient for streams and rivers.
Sampling and evaluation of a water body measured immediately upstream (or outside) of the immediate influence of a particular source of pollutants or pollutant parameters during summer-fall normal flow conditions
Technical Reports
Comprehensive reports detailing our research findings, data analyses, and environmental assessments.
Nov 12th, 2025
Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Roberts Millikin Ditch, Barbee Ditch, and Dry Run Subwatersheds 2024
Dec 23rd, 2024
MBI/2023-7-15
Relationships and Thresholds for Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Variables, Nutrient Effects, and Biological Attributes in Northeast Illinois Rivers and Streams
Dec 17th, 2024
MBI/2024-3-1
Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Upper Des Plaines River 2022
Jun 24th, 2024
Watershed Monitoring and Bioassessment Plan for the Central Ohio Watersheds
Mar 14th, 2024
MBI/2023-12-12
Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Lower Olentangy Tributaries 2022
Aug 7th, 2023
MBI/2020-5-10
Integrated Prioritization System (IPS) for Northeastern Illinois: Technical Documentation and Atlas of Stressor Relationships
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