Sensitive organisms die off with increased land use. For more information, see Land Use and Stream Health and What is Stream Health?
Wild (Reference)
A typical stream in a wild (reference) watershed contains 12 different types of sensitive organisms:
Upper Doyles River
Rural
A typical stream in a rural watershed contains 8 different kinds of sensitive organisms:
Moormans River
Exurban
A typical stream in an exurban watershed contains 7 different kinds of sensitive organisms:
Mechunk Creek
Suburban
A typical stream in a suburban watershed contains 5 different kinds of sensitive organisms:
Ivy Creek
Urban
A typical stream in an urban watershed contains 1 kind of sensitive organism.
Meadow Creek