MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SAVAGE RIVER in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/5/2011 and again in the summer on 6/7/2011.

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 - 4.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 15,096 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 5.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.8 %
Forested Land Use 77.1 %


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 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 24 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.345
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		160.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2698 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 67
Longnose Dace 60
Blacknose Dace 40
Fantail Darter 7
Potomac Sculpin 7
Cutlip Minnow 3
Rosyside Dace 3
White Sucker 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 21
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 13
Epeorus Mayfly 12
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 10
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 7
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 6
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Stenacron Mayfly 4
Teloganopsis Mayfly 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
CHIRONOMIDAE Non-Biting Midge 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tallaperla Roach-Like Stonefly 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Stilocladius Midge 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 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.