Little Maquoketa River IA 01-TRK-131

Assessment Comments

1990 stream use assessment in Dubuque County. 1995 biocriteria site in Dubuque County.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the August 1990 DNR stream use assessment near Durango, and results of the September 1995 DNR biocriteria sampling near Twin Springs to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses from FST to FS due to [BC data] (1) presence of good numbers of the expected game fish species (57 smallmouth bass, including adults), (2) a relatively diverse fish community (17 species from 5 families) for streams in the Driftless Area ecoregion (52), (3) presence of nearly all the expected fish taxa (8 of 9) for streams in this region, and (4) indications of exceptional habitat quality, with good low flow characteristics, very diverse substrates, numerous pool/riffle sequences, no channel alterations, and only few areas with streambank erosion.