Assessment Comments
1997 Biocriteria: Fish IBI=23(poor), BM-IBI=57(good).
Basis for Assessment
[Note: For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment for the White Breast Creek (IA 04-LDM-0210-0), which extended 28 miles from its confluence with Little White Breast Creek to an unnamed tributary in south of Woodburn in Clarke County, was split into two subsegments: (1) from Little White Breast Cr. to Brush Creek near Lucas, Lucas Co. (IA 04-LDM-0210-1) and (2) from confluence with Brush Creek to confluence with unnamed tributary south of Woodburn, Clarke County (IA 04-LDM-0210-2). See above for previous Section 305(b) assessments for the original 28-mile stream segment.]
The assessment was based on the 1997 biological assessment data conducted in Lucas Co. approximately six miles south of Lacona (see 2000 assessment comments), and the aquatic life use support continued to be assessed as partially supporting (=PS), based on a comparison of the F-IBI and BM-IBI scores with biological assessment criteria established specifically for the 2002 Section 305(b) report. The biological assessment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2001.
