MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2012_Midpoint_P_Downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2012_Midpoint_P_Upstream (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 3/28/2012 and again in the summer on 7/3/2012.

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 - 4.0 / 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 61 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.6
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		410.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.7905 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fantail Darter 100
Longnose Dace 60
Blue Ridge Sculpin 51
Blacknose Dace 37
Rock Bass 21
Creek Chub 6
White Sucker 4
Cutlip Minnow 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Ringneck Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 26
Epeorus Mayfly 23
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 6
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 2
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Psephenus Water Penny 1
TAENIOPTERYGIDAE Winter Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill 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.