MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2015


Located on CRABTREE CREEK in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/13/2015 and again in the summer on 8/5/2015.

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 - 4.3 / 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 9.3 %
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 = 29 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.59
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		278.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0598 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 39
Blacknose Dace 28
Longnose Dace 26
Fantail Darter 21
Rock Bass 3
Creek Chub 2
White Sucker 2
Rainbow Trout 1
Smallmouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 40
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 16
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 5
Haploperla Green Stonefly 5
Epeorus Mayfly 5
Diphetor Mayfly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Neoplasta 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Empididae Dance Fly 2
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 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.