Middle Raccoon River IA 04-RAC-1190

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of an October 1997 DNR fish survey.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field notes from the October 1997 DNR fish survey at Hanging Rock Access at Redfield, in combination with the assessment developed for the 1996 report (see above), to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) presence of a very diverse fish community of 19 species from 5 families for streams in the Southern Iowa Rolling Loess Prairies (47f) subecoregion, (2) presence of all the expected fish taxa (8 of 8) for streams in this subregion, (3) presence of the expected game fish species (channel catfish reported as "uncommon" with juveniles and adults present, and smallmouth bass reported as "rare" with only 2 juveniles present)), and (4) presence of above average aquatic habitats for a small river with variety substrate types and current velocities, with some water too deep to sample with a backpack electrofisher.  No threats to continued support of the Class B(WW) uses observed, but stream was only assessed at the upstream boundary of the Class B(WW) reach in a public (park) area.   Additional biological monitoring is needed to better determine the degree to which the Class B(WW) uses are supported.   No information available for assessing support of the Class A primary contact recreation uses.