MBSS Site Summary for: GA-A-184-328-96


Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/18/1996 and again in the summer on 7/15/1996.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 29,708 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.3 %
Forested Land Use 82.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.02
Conductivity 89 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		140.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 513
Blue Ridge Sculpin 251
Fantail Darter 171
Longnose Dace 106
Cutlip Minnow 37
Rosyside Dace 35
Potomac Sculpin 20
River Chub 15
White Sucker 9
Central Stoneroller 6
Margined Madtom 5
Creek Chub 4
Common Shiner 3
Northern Hogsucker 3
Rock Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
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 38
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 26
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 13
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 7
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Neoperla 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 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.