Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on 2005 IDNR/UHL biological monitoring data: FIBI = 59 (good), BMIBI = 28 (poor) and on 2001 IDNR Fisheries data: FIBI = 30 (fair). FIBI BIC = 33; BMIBI BIC = 41.
Basis for Assessment
[Note: Prior to the 2008 Section 305(b) cycle, this stream segment was designated only for Class B(LR) aquatic life uses. Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S. EPA in February 2008 (see http://www.iowadnr.com/water/standards/files/06mar_swc.pdf), this segment is now presumptively designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses. The stream remains designated for aquatic life uses (now termed Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses). Thus, for the current (2010) assessment, the available water quality monitoring data will be compared to the applicable Class A1 and Class B(WW2) water quality criteria.]
SUMMARY: The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain not assessed due to the lack of data for indicator bacteria upon which to base an assessment. The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as “partially supported” based on results of biological monitoring in 2001 and 2005. The sources of the data for this assessment are the results of IDNR/UHL REMAP biological monitoring in 2005 and IDNR Fisheries monitoring in 2001.
EXPLANATION: The presumptive Class A1 primary contact recreation uses remain “not assessed” due to the lack of data for indicator bacteria upon which to base an assessment.
The Class B (WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as “partially supported” based on biological data collected in 2001 and 2005 as part of the IDNR/UHL stream REMAP and IDNR Fisheries sampling projects. A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biological sampling data. The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI). The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 2001 Fisheries FIBI score was 30 (fair). The 2005 FIBI score was 59 (good) and the BMIBI score was 28 (poor). The aquatic life use support was assessed as partially supporting (=PS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for previous Section 305(b) reports. The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 33 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 41. The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2004. This segment passed the FIBI BIC 1/2 times in the last eight years and passed the BMIBI BIC 0/1 times in 2005.
This aquatic life assessment is now considered "evaluated" based on a change in the 2010 IDNR assessment methodology. IDNR now requires a segment have two or more biological samples collected from the segment in multiple years between 2004 and 2008 to be considered “monitored”. This segment had multiple FIBI samples collected in the previous eight years (2001-2008); however, the multiple samples were not collected during 2004-2008. According to IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, impairments based on “evaluated” assessments are of lesser confidence and are thus not appropriate for Section 303(d) listing (Category 5 of the Integrated Report). IDNR does, however, consider these impairments as appropriate for listing under either Category 2b or 3b of the Integrated Report (waters potentially impaired and in need of further investigation). However, despite this change in assessment methodology and type, this waterbody remains in IR Category 5b and remains on Iowa’s 2010 Section 303(d) list of impaired waters.
