MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-204-S-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2017-MidpointPDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-204-S-2017-MidpointPUpstream (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 4/12/2017 and again in the summer on 8/29/2017.

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 9.3 %
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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 63 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.67
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		302.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9823 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 85
Blacknose Dace 55
Brook Trout 41
Longnose Dace 41
Fantail Darter 23
White Sucker 3
Common Shiner 2
Creek Chub 2
Potomac Sculpin 2
Central Stoneroller 1
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes obscurus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Knotweed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
EPEORUS Mayfly 36
BLEPHARICERA Net-Winged Midges 21
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 19
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 10
ACENTRELLA Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 5
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 4
SIMULIUM Black Fly 4
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 3
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 3
DIPHETOR Mayfly 2
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 2
DRUNELLA Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 2
DICRANOTA Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
DIAMESA Bloodworm 1
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 1
STEMPELLINELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
LEUCROCUTA Mayfly 1
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 1
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 1
ISOPERLA Stripetail 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.