MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-202-D-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-202-D-2013-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-202-D-2013-MidpointUpstream (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 4/15/2013 and again in the summer on 6/3/2013.

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 - 5.0 / 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 3,300 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 5 %
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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.22
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		125.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7407 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 203
Blacknose Dace 59
Longnose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 20
Epeorus Mayfly 17
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 8
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 5
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 5
Neophylax Caddisfly 4
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Ectopria Water Penny Beetle 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Leucrocuta Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Atherix 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler 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.