Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of (1) IDNR/UHL biological (biocriteria) sampling in 2002 and (2) IDNR/UHL monthly ambient water quality monitoring at Hwy 59 near Shenandoah from 2000-02

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as "not supported" based on results of biological monitoring in 2002.   Fish consumption uses remain “not assessed” due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.   This assessment is based on (1) results of IDNR monthly (plus) ambient monitoring conducted during the 2000-2002 assessment period near Shenandoah (STORET station 10360001 (formerly station 821008)) and (2) results of IDNR / UHL biological monitoring conducted in 2002 as part of the stream biocriteria project.  

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were assessed (evaluated) as "not supporting" due to results of biological monitoring in 2002 conducted as part of the DNR/UHL stream biocriteria project.   A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data.   The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (F-IBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BM-IBI).   The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2002 BM-IBI score was 41 (fair).  The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as not supporting (=NS), based on a comparison of the BM-IBI score with biological assessment criteria established for previous Section 305(b) reports.  The biological assessment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2001.  

The assessment type is considered  “evaluated” (of lower confidence) because the size of the segment’s watershed exceeds the range of reference condition watershed sizes used to calibrate the benthic macroinvertebrate and fish bioassessment indexes.   For this assessment, the drainage area for the segment (approximately 950 mi2) exceeds the maximum drainage area cutoff (500 mi2) that IDNR has established for use of BMIBI and FIBI data.   Therefore, IDNR considers the aquatic life use impairments indicated by these data as “evaluated” assessments that are 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).

In contrast to results of biological monitoring, results of chemical/physical water quality monitoring at the IDNR station near Shenandoah showed no violations of Class B(WW) water quality criteria during the 2000-2002 assessment period for ammonia-nitrogen (maximum value 1.4 mg/l), and minor violations for dissolved oxygen and pH, in the 46 samples analyzed during the 2000-2002 period.   One of the 46 samples violated the Class B(WW) criterion for dissolved oxygen of 5.0 mg/l.   The sample collected on January 2, 2001 contained 4.3 mg/l of dissolved oxygen.   Two of the 46 samples violated the upper Class B(WW) criterion for pH of 9.0 pH units:  the sample from July 11, 2000 had a pH level of 9.1 units, and the sample from August 6, 2001 had a pH level of 9.2 units.   These violations occurred on days with high levels of dissolved oxygen and elevated water temperatures:  July 11, 2000:  15.6 mg/l and 29.1 C; August 6, 2001:  13.4 mg/l and 30.1 C.  (19.2 mg/l); these readings of water temperature and pH correspond to percent DO saturations of > 140% on both sample dates.   These conditions suggest that the high level of primary productivity resulted in the high level of pH.   Because this violation is more related to natural conditions than to pollution, the occurrence of the high level of pH in this river segment is not seen as a water quality impairment.   Regardless, the U.S.  EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) water quality assessments (U.S.  EPA 1997b, page 3-17), the percentages of violations at this station during the 2000-2002 period for pH (4%) and dissolved oxygen (2%) do not suggest a water quality impairment.   These guidelines allow up to 10% violations of conventional parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen before impairment of water quality is indicated.   In addition, levels of pesticides in the 16 samples analyzed were all below the analytical level of detection.   These results suggest "full support" of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses.  

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of recent fish tissue monitoring in this river segment.