North Raccoon River IA 04-RAC-1140

The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.  The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" (IR 3b) based on results of biological monitoring and habitat assessment conducted as part on an October 1994 IDNR stream use assessment.  A review of the field sheet from the October 1994 DNR stream use assessment showed a fish community of 4 species. Most of the expected species/genera of Class B(LR) streams in the Des Moines Lobe subecoregion were not present during this assessment (only 3 of the 11 expected fish taxa for Des Moines Lobe streams were present).  Although the data upon which this assessment were originally based have aged well beyond 10 years (now 20+ years)--and are thus considered far too old to characterize current water quality conditions--the indication of a potential impairment suggests that this stream segment should remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" and thus remain in IR Category 3b (i.e., on Iowa's list of waters in need of further investigation).  Follow-up monitoring is needed to update this assessment, to determine the status of the aquatic communities of this stream, and to determine the degree to which the aquatic life uses may be impaired.