The Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division has many documents available. Our most requested files are linked below.

• MBSS Sampling Manual: Field Protocols - 04/15/2024
• Key to the Freshwater Fish of Maryland - 12/1/2009
• Key to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Maryland - 1/1/2012
• Key to the Crayfishes of Maryland - 5/1/2019
• Manual to the Freshwater Mussels of MD - 2/1/2016
• MBSS Laboratory Methods for Benthic Macroinvertebrate Processing & Taxonomy - 07/2024
• Standard Operating Procedures for Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, Turbidity, and pH Continuous Monitoring at the Jabez III Stream Restoration Project - 11/2025
• Guide To the Maryland Biological Stream Survey Benthic Macroinvertebrate and Fish Indices of Biotic Integrity - 09/30/2024
• New Biological Indicators to Better Assess the Condition of Maryland Streams; Volume 16 - 12/1/2005

If you want a file that is not linked here, please refer to the following lists for many of the documents available by request.

Manuals, SOPs, Guides, and QAPPs

• MBSS Quality Assurance Project Plan - 08/2024
• Maryland Stream Waders Volunteer Stream Monitoring Manual - 1/9/2015
• MBSS Round 4 Sampling Manual - 1/29/2019
• MBSS Sampling Manual: Field Protocols (Round 3: 2007-2009) - 2/1/2007
• Guide to Using Round 1 and 2 (1995 - 2010) Maryland Biological Stream Survey Data - 5/10/2010
• Stream Corridor Assessment - Protocol Manual - 9/1/2001

Keys and Field Identification Aids

• Family-Level Key to the Stream Invertebrates of Maryland and Surrounding Areas (rev 2003) - 8/1/2003
• Freshwater Bivalves of Maryland Field Identification Information - 8/1/2006
• Common Fish of Maryland - 10/22/2013

Projects, Reports, and Results

MBSS

• Maryland Biological Stream Survey Round Four Results: Investigating Potential Changes Over Time in Stream Conditions - 05/2024
• Sentinel Site Report 2023 plus Appendices (November 2023) - 11/2023
• 2014 Update to MBSS Sentinel Site Report - 12/31/2014
• MBSS Round 3 Fish Population Estimates - 11/13/2014
• 2010 Sentinel Site Report - 4/1/2010

Restoration

• Water Quality Monitoring for Trust Fund Sites - 5/16/2014
• Stream Discharge Monitoring for Trust Fund Sites - 5/1/2013
• Geomorphic Monitoring for Trust Fund Sites - 2/1/2013
• Evaluating a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Stream Restoration and its Effects on Water Quality and Benthic Macroinvertebrates - 5/2023
• Monitoring freshwater mussel relocation in Deer Creek, Rocks State Park - 6/1/2016
• Relocation of freshwater mussels in Deer Creek, Rocks State Park, Maryland - 6/1/2015
• Study on Dam Removal on the Patapsco River - 5/1/2013

Species Studies

• Biological Monitoring and American Eel Passage in the Patapsco River, Maryland (October 2022) - 2/1/2023
• Zebra Mussel Monitoring and Habitat Assessment for Deep Creek Lake, Maryland 11/28/2022
• Didymosphenia geminata Infestation in Maryland: Reactions and Responses by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 2008-2014 - 12/1/2016
• Eastern Mud Salamander Status in Maryland - 12/1/2006
• Maryland Darter Survey - 12/1/2012
• Surveys for the Endangered Maryland Darter - 12/1/2012

Water Quality and Chemistry

• Quality Assurance Document for Temperature Monitoring - 2/3/2016
• Do Road Salts Cause Environmental Impacts? - 4/1/2013

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Other Assessments

• Maryland Stream Waders 10 Year Report - 10/1/2012
• Stream Corridor Assessment - Lower Linganore Creek - 5/1/2005
• Stream Corridor Assessment - Ballenger Creek - 5/1/2005
• Maryland Stream Waders Sample Year 2002 Report - 5/1/2003

Metric Development

• Development of a Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity for Maryland Streams - 12/1/1998
• A Physical Habitat Index for Freshwater Wadeable Streams in Maryland - 7/1/2003

Data Sheets

• MBSS Summer Photodocumentation Sheet
• MBSS Spring Sampling Data Sheets (2009)
• MBSS Summer Sampling Data Sheets (2009)
• Stream Wader Data Sheet (2011)

Fact Sheets

• Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates
• Just Say No to Didymo - A Didymo factsheet
• Stream Macroinvertebrates
• The Threat of Introduced, Non-native Crayfishes to Maryland's Aquatic Ecosystems
• Assessment of Water Quality in Streams of the Marcellus Shale Region
• Maryland Waters: An Evaluation of Stream Health
• Stronghold Watershed Fact Sheet
• Long-term Monitoring Program Shows Improving Nitrogen Trends in Maryland's Rivers and Streams
• Monitoring Results: Stream Restoration in the Magothy Watershed
• Monitoring Results: Stream Restoration in the Red Hill Branch Watershed
• Woody Debris is Good!

Critter Posters

• Crayfish of Maryland
• The Maryland Darter
• Frogs and Toads of Maryland
• Lizards of Maryland
• Salamanders of Maryland
• Snakes of Maryland
• Turtles of Maryland

Other Documents

Due to the large number in our archives, they cannot all be listed here. If you are searching for a document that is not listed above, please send us a Data Request, and we will be happy to assist you.

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