Des Moines River IA 04-LDM-1003

from confluence with Sugar Cr. (S25 T65N R6W Lee Co.) to confluence with Indian Cr. in S35 T68N R8W Van Buren Co.

This is a Legacy Assessment. Prior to 2004, assessments were developed under a methodology that pre-dated the Integrated Report guidelines.

Assessment Cycle

1996

Result Period

1992 - 1994

Designations

Assessment Type

Monitored

Integrated Report

Category 0

Legacy ADBCode

IA 04-LDM-0010_2

Overall Use Support

Threatened

Aquatic Life Use Support

Threatened

Fish Consumption

Threatened

Primary Contact Recreation

Not assessed

Documentation

Assessment Comments

RAFT monitoring.

Basis for Assessment

Results from 1992 RAFT (CCAT fillets) and 1994 RAFT (whole fish, carp = trend site) show all contams < 1/2 FDA action level in 1992 fillet samples and only chlordane > 1/2 FDA AL in 1994 whole fish carp sample (0.25 mg/kg). Thus, due to lack of fillet data > 1/2 FDA ALs, and due to all levels < FDA levels in whole fish, assess fish consumption use as FST. The 1996 "Fishing Forecast" from the March/April 1996 "Iowa Conservationist" suggests that the lower Des Moines River is good to excellent for channel catfish and flathead catfish. Thus, assess the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST. Threats to continued support of the aquatic life uses include high loads of silt delivered to the river via tributaries.