Little Fourmile Creek IA 04-LDM-1114

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment .

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheets from the October 1990 DNR stream use assessment to continue to assess the support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) presence of a moderately diverse fish community (11 species from 3 families) at the one assessment site in the Class B(LR) reach, (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (6 of 11) for streams in the Des Moines Lobe subecoregion (47b), and (3) relatively good quality riparian corridor and aquatic habitats.   The fish community diversity upstream from the Class B(LR) boundary (creek chub and green sunfish) is very low, and a water quality impacts from the Altoona WWTP was suspected.   This potential WQ impact is the primary threat to the continued support of the Class B(LR) uses as well.   The data upon which this assessment is based are more than 5 years old.   Additional monitoring is needed to update this assessment and to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats.