MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2014-MidpointUpstream (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 3/20/2014 and again in the summer on 7/24/2014.

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 - 4.7 / 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 5.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.3 %
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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.22
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		151.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8092 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 169
Blue Ridge Sculpin 167
Longnose Dace 158
Potomac Sculpin 42
Rosyside Dace 38
Cutlip Minnow 29
Fantail Darter 29
Creek Chub 26
White Sucker 24
Common Shiner 2
Brown Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
Shrub Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 38
Prosimulium Black Fly 15
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 11
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 10
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 8
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 4
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 4
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ephemera Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Taenionema 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 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.