MBSS Site Summary for: GA-A-999-302-96


Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/27/1996 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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 33,540 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 14.9 %
Forested Land Use 83.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		88.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 209
Blacknose Dace 165
Blue Ridge Sculpin 140
Fantail Darter 62
Central Stoneroller 51
White Sucker 34
Cutlip Minnow 28
River Chub 25
Rock Bass 15
Potomac Sculpin 10
Margined Madtom 9
Common Shiner 4
Creek Chub 1
Northern Hogsucker 1
Rainbow Trout 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Smallmouth Bass 1
Yellow Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake

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 27
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 12
Epeorus Mayfly 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 5
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 5
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Heptagenia 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Brachycentrus Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Nemouridae Nemourid 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.