Willow Slough IA 05-NSH-1443

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remained assessed as "fully supported / threatend" 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 reporting cycle.

EXPLANATION:  Based on a review of the previous (2000) assessment by the DNR Wildlife Bureau, the Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported / threatened."  The primary threat remains siltation from agricultural nonpoint sources.   According to the local DNR Wildlife Biologist, Willow Slough normally has very good water quality but receives considerable sedimentation due to locally heavy rains.  

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