MBSS Site Summary for: PRMO-202-X-2015


Located on SANDY BRANCH in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/28/2015 and again in the summer on 8/21/2015.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area No data available Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use No data available
Agricultural Land Use No data available
Forested Land Use No data available


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 26 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:

No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 300
Fantail Darter 98
Creek Chub 83
Central Stoneroller 66
Rosyside Dace 62
White Sucker 45
Bluntnose Minnow 26
Potomac Sculpin 26
Silverjaw Minnow 26
Longnose Dace 25
Green Sunfish 7
Bluegill 6
Largemouth Bass 2
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog

Crayfish:

Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 28
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 25
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Antocha Crane Fly 10
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 3
Neoplasta 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Sublettea 1
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Corydalus Dobsonfly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 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.