MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2004


Located on CRABTREE CR in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/19/2004 and again in the summer on 8/5/2004.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 91 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.59
Conductivity 189 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		281.4 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 48
Blue Ridge Sculpin 44
Rock Bass 36
Blacknose Dace 32
Fantail Darter 14
Bluntnose Minnow 3
Brown Trout 1
Central Stoneroller 1
Potomac Sculpin 1
Rainbow Trout 1
White Sucker 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
Diamesa Bloodworm 35
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 12
Epeorus Mayfly 12
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 8
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 7
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 7
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Taeniopteryx Winter 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.