Lake Creek IA 04-RAC-1163

Assessment Comments

Two stream use assessments.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheets from the two October 1992 DNR stream use assessments in Calhoun County to continue to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) presence of relativey diverse fish communities (species/families:  16/4, 15/4) for streams in the Des Moines Lobe subecoregion (additional species may have been present in deep (>5') pools that were too deep to electrofish), (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (7 of 11 and 8 of 11) for stream in this subecoregion, and (3) generally good habitat quality with infrequent riffles forming deep pools.  As noted in the assessment developed for the 1994 305(b) report (see above), the primary threat to the continued support of the Class B(LR) uses is over-pasturing of the riparian corridor and the resultant streambank destabilization and erosion; channelization of headwater reaches is also a concern.