Jim Creek IA 04-LDM-1108

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the September 1990 DNR stream use assessment in Madison County to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses to FST due to (1) presence of moderately diverse fish community (10 species from 3 families) for streams in the Mississippi River portion of the Southern Iowa Rolling Loess Prairies (47f), presence of nearly all the expected fish taxa (7 of 8) for streams in this subecoregion, and (3) presence of additional fish taxa (hornyhead chub, stoneroller, and common shiner) which sugget adequate to above average water quality and habitat conditions.   The primary threat to the continued support of the Class B(LR) uses, as identified on the field sheet, is pasturing of the riprarian zone and the related destabilized and eroding stream banks.   The data upon which this assessment is based is more than 5 years old.  Additional monitoring is needed to update the assessment and to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats.