MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-301-D-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-301-D-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-301-D-2012-2 (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 3/12/2012 and again in the summer on 7/17/2012.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 8,537 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 7.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 21.4 %
Forested Land Use 70.2 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.04
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		192.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7945 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
Blacknose Dace 373
Blue Ridge Sculpin 188
Cutlip Minnow 150
Creek Chub 129
White Sucker 113
Common Shiner 100
Rosyside Dace 83
Fantail Darter 75
Longnose Dace 66
Potomac Sculpin 31
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red Spotted Newt

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 81
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 1
Diphetor Mayfly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Pagastia 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged 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.