Walnut Creek Marsh IA 05-GRA-1384

Assessment Comments

Assessment remains based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.   Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  This is the same assessment as that developed for the 2002, 2004, and 2006 assessment/listing cycles.

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported" based on information from the Iowa DNR Wildlife Bureau (see assessments developed for the 1998 and 2000 reporting cycles).   The assessment category for this wetland of "evaluated" indicates that the assessment is based entirely on "best professional judgement."  In terms of Section 305(b) reporting, "monitored assessments" are based primarily on recent, site-specific ambient monitoring data and thus have relatively high confidence.   IDNR considers waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "monitored assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.   "Evaluated assessments" are those based on data older than five years or other than site-specific ambient monitoring data (e.g., questionnaire surveys of fish and game biologists [=best professional judgement]) and thus have relatively lower confidence.   IDNR does not consider waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "evaluated assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.  

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  In general, Iowa wetlands are not managed for recreational fisheries; thus, fish contaminant monitoring is not typically conducted at these waterbodies.