MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CRABTREE CREEK in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2011 and again in the summer on 7/20/2011.

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 10,846 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.6 %
Forested Land Use 84.1 %


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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 20/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 68 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.14
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		252.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9778 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 121
Longnose Dace 61
Fantail Darter 51
Blacknose Dace 34
Rock Bass 10
White Sucker 7
Creek Chub 5
Central Stoneroller 3
Smallmouth Bass 3
Cutlip Minnow 1
Potomac Sculpin 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Gartersnake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Knotweed
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 17
Taenionema 12
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 9
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Diamesa Bloodworm 6
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 5
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 2
Haploperla Green Stonefly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
HYDROPSYCHIDAE Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 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.