Chequest Creek IA 04-LDM-1030

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of 1997 Biocriteria sampling: Fish IBI=46(fair), BM-IBI=75(good).; 21 spp, 5 fams.

Basis for Assessment

Used results of the July 1997 DNR biocriteria sampling approximately 2.5 mi NW of Pittsburg in Van Buren County to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from FST to FS due to (1) presence of a very diverse fish community for the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion (21 species from 5 families) with relatively large numbers of individuals per species and including sensitive species such as smallmouth bass and orangethroat darter, (2) presence of all expected fish taxa (8 of 8) for streams in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion, (3) IBI score (36) is the highest of any reference site yet sampled in this ecoregion, and (4) lack of violations of Class B(LR) WQ criteria in the sample collected during the biocriteria sampling.   Despite the problems with habitat quality mentioned in the assessment developed for the 1996 Section 305(b) report (see above), habitat scores for nearly the entire Class B(LR) reach were above the overall median habitat scores for DNR stream use assessments conducted between 1990 and 1995, thus suggesting relatively minor impacts to aquatic habitats.