Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on IDNR monthly WQ monitoring station south of Garber at USGS gage and results of EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 2000 near Garber.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were assessed as "fully supported."  Fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported."  Sources of data for this assessment include (1) results monthly monitoring from October 1999 through September 2001 at the IDNR ambient station located at the County Road C43 bridge south of Garber approximately 1 mile downstream from confluence with the Volga River and (2) U.S.  EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 2000 near Garber.   EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were assessed as "fully supported" based on results of monthly monitoring from the IDNR ambient station south of Garber.   Monitoring at this station showed no violations of Class B(WW) water quality criteria for conventional pollutants or ammonia in the 24 samples analyzed or for toxic metals in the four samples analyzed during this biennial period.   Fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported" based on the 2000 EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) sampling near Garber.   Results showed very low levels of all contaminants in the samples of fillets from channel catfish and smallmouth bass, with no contaminants approaching either ½ of the respective FDA action levels or DNR levels of concern.