MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2012_Mid-point_P_Downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2012_Mid-point_P_Upstream (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 3/28/2012 and again in the summer on 7/2/2012.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.37
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		200.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8533 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 264
Longnose Dace 223
Blacknose Dace 152
Fantail Darter 86
Potomac Sculpin 32
Rosyside Dace 28
Cutlip Minnow 11
White Sucker 8
Creek Chub 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog
Spotted Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Shrub Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 28
Prosimulium Black Fly 23
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 14
Epeorus Mayfly 9
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 5
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 4
Antocha Crane Fly 4
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Leucrocuta Mayfly 1
Teloganopsis Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 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.