MBSS Site Summary for: SAVA-410-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-410-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-410-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-410-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-410-R-2002-4 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site SAVA-410-R-2002-5 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SAVAGE R in the Savage River watershed, 8-digit code: 02141006.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/2002 and again in the summer on 8/5/2002.

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 Fair - 3.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 67,371 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 9 %
Forested Land Use 85 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 20/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 19/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters
18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters
19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 13.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 12.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.35
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
202.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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 651
Brown Trout 33
Longnose Dace 8
Rainbow Trout 4
Rock Bass 4
Fantail Darter 3
Blacknose Dace 1
Potomac Sculpin 1
White Sucker 1
Yellow Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 24
Gammarus Amphipod 12
Caecidotea Isopod 12
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 12
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 10
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 6
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Epeorus Mayfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Diphetor Mayfly 2
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 2
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Paracapnia Small Winter Stonefly 1
Alloperla 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.