MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-203-C-2001

Site Photos


Located on POPLAR LICK 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 6/26/2001.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,405 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 6 %
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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters
17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters
18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.9
Conductivity 60 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
98.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 145
Longnose Dace 16
Blacknose Dace 12
Potomac Sculpin 6
Yellow Perch 4
Fantail Darter 3
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 15
Epeorus Mayfly 15
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 4
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow 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.