MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-214-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-214-R-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-214-R-2016-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Bear Pen Run in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2016 and again in the summer on 6/9/2016.

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 1,245 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 2.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 15 %
Forested Land Use 82.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 32 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 70 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 5 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.25
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		125.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.958 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 29
Blacknose Dace 1
Longnose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 37
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 22
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 7
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 6
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 5
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 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.