MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2013-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2013-MidpointPupstream (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 3/4/2013 and again in the summer on 7/22/2013.

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 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 19/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 49 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.33
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		184.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.192 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 356
Blacknose Dace 239
Longnose Dace 209
Fantail Darter 85
Rosyside Dace 65
Potomac Sculpin 31
Cutlip Minnow 30
Creek Chub 23
White Sucker 16
Common Shiner 5
Rainbow Trout 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 18
Prosimulium Black Fly 16
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 9
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Epeorus Mayfly 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 2
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Taenionema 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Teloganopsis Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.