Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of IDNR/UHL biological (biocriteria) monitoring in 1995: Fish IBI= 27(fair), BM-IBI= 45 (fair).
Basis for Assessment
[Note: Although originally placed in Category 3b of Iowa's 2004 Integrated Report by Iowa DNR, U.S. EPA Region VII, in their May 23, 2006 transmittal of Iowa's final approved 2004 Section 303(d) list, added this waterbody segment to Iowa's 2004 Section 303(d) list (IR Category 5b). Iowa DNR maintained that the data used for this assessment were too old (more than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions. Thus, this assessment was considered of lower confidence (i.e., "evaluated"), and this "partially supported" waterbody was thus considered not appropriate for Section 303(d) listing. U.S. EPA Region VII, however, stated that IDNR did not provide waterbody-specific data or information which supported its conclusion that the bioassessment data pertaining to this stream were not representative of current water quality conditions nor was EPA aware of any information which suggested that these data were not representative. Thus, EPA added-back this assessment segment to Iowa's 2004 final approved Section 303(d) list (Category 5b). Iowa DNR’s original assessment for the 2004 Section 305(b) assessment cycle is included below.]
SUMMARY: The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported" based on results of biological monitoring and habitat assessment conducted as part of the IDNR/UHL biocriteria sampling in October 1995. Due to the age of the data, assessment category is changed from "monitored" (higher-confidence assessment) to "evaluated" (lower-confidence assessment). Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."
EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report that was based on results of the 1995 IDNR biocriteria assessment. Because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is changed from "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively high confidence) to "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively low confidence).
Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this stream segment.
