Cooper Creek IA 05-CHA-1323

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of biological monitoring conducted by the IDNR Fisheries Bureau in 2001: FIBI = 30. FIBI BIC = 33.

Basis for Assessment

The assessment was based on data collected in 2001 as part of a DNR Fisheries stream sampling project: Manchester research station.   A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the Fisheries sampling data.   The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI).   The index ranks the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2001 evaluated FIBI was 30 (fair).   The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as Fully Supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the FIBI score with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for previous Section 305(b) reports.  The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2004.   The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 33 and this site passed using the UAV of 7 points.

Note:  with the exception of updating the previous assessment of "fully supporting/threatened, no declining trend" to "fully supporting" to reflect a change in IDNR's 2006 assessment/listing methodology, this is the same assessment as that developed for the previous (2004) assessment cycle.