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
- 2022
- Release Status
- Final
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 12/10/2021 1:41:04 PM
- Updated
- 1/10/2022 10:50:50 AM
Assessment Summary
The Class BWW2 use was assessed as “not supported” due to a fish kill investigation and based on biological sampling data. All other designated uses were "not assessed."
Assessment Explanation
Data Sources: 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 Benthic Macroinvertebrates: BioNet Site ID Date Drainage Area (mi2) Ecoregion Major Drainage BM Sample Gear BMIBI score BMIBI Class 47c BMIBI BIT BMIBI Pass/Fail 203 9/18/08 13 47c MS Hess 66 Good 70 Fail 203 8/11/99 13 47c MS Hess 52 Fair 70 Fail BioNet Site ID Date Drainage Area (mi2) Ecoregion Major Drainage Riffle Stream? FIBI score FIBI Class 47c FIBI BIT FIBI Pass/Fail 203 9/18/08 13 47c MS Yes 42 Fair 65 Fail 203 8/11/99 13 47c MS Yes 37 Fair 65 Fail Community Assessment Type Assessment Result Support Level IR Category Reason Benthic Macroinvertebrates Evaluated Fail (0/2) Not Fish Evaluated Fail (0/2) Not Assessment was evaluated because it was
based on Overall Evaluated Fail Not 5bt samples
greater than five years old.
Presumptive Class A1 - No Data
Class BWW2 - Biological Sampling:
Fish:
Overall Assessment:
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 |