Camp Creek IA 04-LDM-1070

Assessment Comments

Three stream use assessments in 1990.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheets from the three November 1990 DNR stream use assessments in Polk County to downgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from FST to PS due to (1) very low diversity of the fish communities at the three locations sampled (species/families:  5/2, 5/1, 3/3) for streams in the Mississippi River portion of the Southern Iowa Rolling Loess Prairies subecoregion (47f) and (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (3 of 8, 4 of 8, and 2 of 8) for streams in this subecoregion.   The DNR stream use assessments were conducted very late in the year (late November) and this may have negatively influenced sampling results.   However, given the average to above average aquatic habitats present (especially in Mitchell Park), the relatively poor results of biological sampling suggests a potential water quality problem.   Follow-up monitoring is need to update this assessment, to determine the status of the aquatic communities of this stream, and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.