MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/2003 and again in the summer on 8/12/2003.

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 - 5.0 / 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 34,210 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.9 %
Forested Land Use 83.6 %


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 = 49 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 60 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.11
Conductivity 171 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		116.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 213
Longnose Dace 142
Blacknose Dace 99
Cutlip Minnow 61
Fantail Darter 41
Potomac Sculpin 28
White Sucker 19
Creek Chub 3
Rosyside Dace 3
Brown Trout 1
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 23
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 14
Serratella Mayfly 9
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 9
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Epeorus Mayfly 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 3
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Gastropoda Snail 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Fallceon 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 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.