Yellow Medicine River Watershed Biotic Stressor Identification

The purpose of stressor identification is to explain the results of the biological monitoring and assessment process. The information obtained answers the questions of why one stream has a low index of biological integrity (IBI) score, while another has a high score. It looks at causal factors – negative ones harming fish and insects, and positive ones leading to healthy biology. Stressors may be physical, chemical, or biological. This report summarizes stressor identification work in the Yellow Medicine River watershed. Located in west-central Minnesota, the Yellow Medicine River watershed encompasses approximately 754,100 acres. This watershed includes many streams that flow into Yellow Medicine River, but also many are direct tributaries to the Minnesota River.