MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2014-MidpointUpstream (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 3/20/2014 and again in the summer on 8/5/2014.

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 - 4.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
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 9.3 %
Forested Land Use 84.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 56 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.43
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		265.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0356 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 78
Longnose Dace 51
Fantail Darter 43
Blacknose Dace 15
Rock Bass 13
Rainbow Trout 4
Creek Chub 3
White Sucker 3
Smallmouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Porcelainberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 66
Epeorus Mayfly 11
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 7
Taeniopterygidae Winter Stonefly 6
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Taenionema 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Sweltsa 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.