MBSS Site Summary for: PRMO-202-X-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRMO-202-X-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PRMO-202-X-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Sandy Branch in the Potomac River MO Cnty watershed, 8-digit code: 02140202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/11/2017.

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 N R
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 A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 60 %
Agricultural Land Use 9 %
Forested Land Use 20.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat not sampled
Epifaunal Substrate not sampled
Velocity/Depth Diversity not sampled
Pool Quality not sampled
Riffle Quality not sampled
Shading not sampled
Embeddedness not sampled


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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Gray Treefrog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 43
STENELMIS Beetle 15
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 11
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 11
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 6
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 5
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 3
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 2
HEMERODROMIA Tiny Fly 2
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 2
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
PSEPHENUS Water Penny 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
CHIRONOMINI Non-Biting Midge 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
CAENIS Mayfly 1
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 1
NEOPLASTA 1
MENETUS Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 1
CORBICULA Basket Clam 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.