Assessment Comments

Assessment remains based on (1) on statewide assessment of freshwater mussels, (2) information from IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and (3) results of U.S. EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring.

Basis for Assessment

Used results from (1) the monthly WQ monitoring station operated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency near Austin, MN, (2) the 1995 RAFT sampling near Osage, and (3) WQ monitoring at the Mitchell Dam hydropower project to develop assessments of use support.   Assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FS due to lack violations of either conventional or toxic contaminants in the 18 samples collected during the Oct 95-Sept 97 period.   Also, monitoring for dissolved oxygen at the Mitchell hydro project suggests no problems with low DO.   Continue to assess fish consumption uses as FST as developed for the 1996 report (see above).   The Class A primary contact uses were not assessed:  no bacterial monitoring was conducted at the Austin sample site during summers of 1996 and 1997.   Additional monitoring is needed to determine the status of the aquatic communites and habitats of this river reach.