MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-159-S-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-159-S-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-159-S-2001-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-159-S-2001-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLEFORK RUN in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2001 and again in the summer on 7/19/2001.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,715 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 8 %
Forested Land Use 89 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 19/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters
20/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters
18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 16.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.12
Conductivity 80 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
89.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.5 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 193
Fantail Darter 60
Blacknose Dace 47
Longnose Dace 42
White Sucker 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 18
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 16
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 14
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 11
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 4
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 4
Oemopteryx Stonefly 4
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.