MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-5 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-6 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2003-4 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CRABTREE CR in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/24/2003 and again in the summer on 7/24/2003.

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 - 4.0 / 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 10,214 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.6 %
Forested Land Use 84 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 20/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 20/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 57 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.66
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		348.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7 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 59
Blacknose Dace 53
Fantail Darter 51
Longnose Dace 43
Rock Bass 37
White Sucker 7
Potomac Sculpin 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 26
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 19
Epeorus Mayfly 17
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 9
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 5
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 2
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 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.