MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-276-S-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-276-S-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-276-S-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Double Lick Run in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/7/2010 and again in the summer on 6/30/2010.

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 - 4.5 / 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 2,712 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.9 %
Forested Land Use 80 %


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 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 20 meters
10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 62 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 5 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 6.75
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
67.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.3515 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 6
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern Gartersnake
Northern Slimy Salamander

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Epeorus Mayfly 27
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 15
Amphipoda Scud 11
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 6
Pteronarcys Giant Stonefly 6
Gammarus Amphipod 6
Yugus 4
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 3
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Leucrocuta Mayfly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 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.