MBSS Site Summary for: GA-A-002-312-96


Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/22/1996 and again in the summer on 8/8/1996.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,754 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 31.1 %
Forested Land Use 67.9 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.46
Conductivity 100 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		135.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.1 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health. 		Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:
The following 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 331
Longnose Dace 146
Blue Ridge Sculpin 68
White Sucker 51
Cutlip Minnow 44
Fantail Darter 35
Creek Chub 14
Potomac Sculpin 8
Margined Madtom 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 18
Prosimulium Black Fly 7
Serratella Mayfly 5
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 3
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Larsia Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.