ADBNet

The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as “partially supporting” based on biological data collected in 1996, 2002 and 2011 as part of the IDNR/SHL stream biocriteria project and on data collected in 2002 as part of an IDNR Fisheries stream sampling project: Cold Springs Fish Management. The 1996 FIBI score was 21 (poor) and the BMIBI score was 51 (fair). The 2002 FIBI score was 34 (fair) and the BMIBI score was 65 (good). The 2011 FIBI score was 26 (fair) and the BMIBI score was 52 (fair). The 2002 IDNR Fisheries FIBI scores were 23 (poor) and 41 (fair). 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 biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008. The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 31 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 54. This segment passed the FIBI BIC 2/5 times and passed the BMIBI BIC 1/3 times in the last 19 years.

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 over a recent five-year period to be considered “monitored”. This segment had multiple samples collected in the previous 19 years; however, the multiple samples were not collected during a five-year period. 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).