MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-202-D-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-202-D-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-202-D-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BIG RUN in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2012 and again in the summer on 7/17/2012.

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 - 4.5 / 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 3,300 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 5.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.9 %
Forested Land Use 91.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 29 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 48 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.32
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		143.9672 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9746 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 278
Blacknose Dace 55
Longnose Dace 7
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 23
Epeorus Mayfly 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 8
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 5
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 4
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
CHIRONOMIDAE Non-Biting Midge 3
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 2
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Sweltsa 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.