MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-301-D-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-301-D-2013-50mDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-301-D-2013-50mUpstream (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 4/15/2013 and again in the summer on 6/25/2013.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.8 / 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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.36
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		172.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2862 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 342
Blue Ridge Sculpin 184
Cutlip Minnow 158
Creek Chub 147
Rosyside Dace 125
White Sucker 112
Common Shiner 104
Fantail Darter 101
Potomac Sculpin 54
Longnose Dace 49
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 100
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Stenacron Mayfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.