Brown Creek IA 04-UDM-1305
mouth (NW 1/4 S24 T99N R34W Emmet Co.) to IA/MN state line.
Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on occurrence of a fish kill in September 1998.
Basis for Assessment
SUMMARY: The general aquatic life uses of this stream were assessed as "partially supported." EXPLANATION: A fish kill occurred in this stream reach on Sept. 27, 1998, near Estherville in Emmet County. A rainfall event moved from 90,000 to 100,000 gallons of manure to Brown Creek and onto the Des Moines River just downstream from Estherville. Approximately 1 mile of Brown Creek was affected, and approximately 20 miles of the Des Moines River was affected. An estimated 75,300 fish were killed. According to DNR's assessment methodology for Section 305(b) reporting, occurrence of a single pollution-caused fish kill within the most recent three-year period indicates that the aquatic life uses of a waterbody are only "partially supported." Thus, the general aquatic life uses of this stream were assessed as "partially supported."
Assessment Key Dates
| 8/27/1998 | Fishkill |
Methods
| 140 | Incidence of spills and/or fish kills |
Monitoring Levels
| Biological | 0 |
| Habitat | 0 |
| Physical Chemistry | 0 |
| Toxic | 0 |
| Pathogen Indicators | 0 |
| Other Health Indicators | 0 |
| Other Aquatic Life Indicators | 0 |
| # of Bio Sites | 0 |
| BioIntegrity | N/A |
| Causes | Use Support | Cause Magnitude | Sources | Source Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic enrichment/Low DO | Overall Use Support | Moderate |
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| Organic enrichment/Low DO | Aquatic Life Support | Moderate |
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| Unionized Ammonia | Overall Use Support | Moderate |
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| Unionized Ammonia | Aquatic Life Support | Moderate |
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