MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2004


Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/19/2004 and again in the summer on 8/4/2004.

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 - 4.3 / 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 46 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 39 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.4
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		123.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3 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
Blacknose Dace 130
Longnose Dace 128
Blue Ridge Sculpin 127
Cutlip Minnow 55
Fantail Darter 24
Potomac Sculpin 24
White Sucker 10
Rosyside Dace 6
Brown Trout 1
Common Shiner 1
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander

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 10
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 8
Epeorus Mayfly 8
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 4
Diamesa Bloodworm 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 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.