Hickory Creek IA 01-NMQ-110
mouth (S21 T89N R2W Dubuque Co.) to confluence with unnamed tributary in S14 T89N R2W Dubuque Co.
- Assessment Cycle
- 2020
- Release Status
- Final
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 6/10/2020 8:16:32 AM
- Updated
- 10/15/2020 6:21:14 AM
Assessment Summary
The Class BWW2 use was assessed as “partially supported” based on a fish kill investigation and on biological sampling data. All other designated uses were "not assessed".
Assessment Explanation
Sources of Data: Data Source Data Source ID Data Type Data Age Site ID Site Name Site Description Iowa DNR 6 BIO See Below 203 Hickory Creek New Vienna – HI2 Presumptive Class A1 - No Data Class
BWW2 - Biological Sampling: Benthic
Macroinvertebrates: BioNet Site ID Date Drainage Area (mi2) Ecoregion Major Drainage/Thermal BM Sample Gear BMIBI score BMIBI Class 47c BMIBI BIT BMIBI Pass/ Fail 203 9/18/08 13 47c MS/WW Hess 66 Good 70 Fail 203 8/11/99 13 47c MS/WW Hess 52 Fair 70 Fail Fish: BioNet Site ID Date Drainage Area (mi2) Ecoregion Major Drainage/Thermal Riffle Stream? FIBI score FIBI Class 47c FIBI BIT FIBI Pass/ Fail 203 9/18/08 13 47c MS/WW Yes 42 Fair 65 Fail 203 8/11/99 13 47c MS/WW Yes 37 Fair 65 Fail Overall Assessment:
Community Assessment Type Assessment Result Support Level Earned IR Category Actual IR Category Reason Benthic Macroinvertebrates Evaluated Fail (0/2) Partial Fish Evaluated Fail (0/2) Partial Overall Evaluated Fail Partial 3bc 5bt Assessment
is evaluated because it was based on samples greater than five years old. Class BWW2 - Fish kill Assessment: The Class BWW2 aquatic life use assessment based on the 2017 fish kill placed this segment in Category 4d. The fish kill was caused by a “pollutant” or was suspected to be caused by a “pollutant”; therefore, the Class BWW2 use was considered impaired. However, because restitution for the fish killed was received, the Class BWW2 use was placed in Category 4d (impaired but TMDL not required). DNR feels that (1) TMDLs should not be required for a fish kill caused by a one-time illegal or unauthorized release of a pollutant where enforcement action was taken and (2) enforcement action is more appropriate and effective for addressing a spill-related impairment than the TMDL process. Details about the 2017 fish kill can be found here:https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/940
Assessment Key Dates
| 8/11/1999 | Biological Monitoring |
| 9/18/2008 | Biological Monitoring |
| 10/9/2017 | Fish Kill |
Methods
| 120 | Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals |
| 140 | Incidence of spills and/or fish kills |
| 150 | Monitoring data more than 5 years old |
| 315 | Regional reference site approach |
| 320 | Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys |
| 330 | Fish surveys |