MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-225-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2016-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-225-S-2016-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 3/7/2016 and again in the summer on 7/20/2016.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,712 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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.35
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		183.9598 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4924 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 154
Longnose Dace 81
Blacknose Dace 68
Fantail Darter 22
Rosyside Dace 20
White Sucker 8
Potomac Sculpin 7
Cutlip Minnow 6
Creek Chub 2
Brown Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 28
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 16
Prosimulium Black Fly 12
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 12
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Epeorus Mayfly 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Stilocladius Midge 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.