West Tarkio Creek IA 05-TAR-1497

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of 1995 Biocriteria sampling: Fish IBI=30 (fair), BM-IBI= 39(fair).

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the September 1991 DNR stream use assessment, and a review of results from the October 1995 DNR biocriteria sampling, to continue to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as PS.   Results of the September 1991 stream use assessment suggest a relatively diverse fish community (13 species from 4 families) for streams in the Loess Hills and Rolling Prairies (47e) subecoregion that contained nearly all (6 of 7) of the expected fish taxa for streams in this subecoregion.   Results of the 1995 biocriteria sampling, however, show only about half the number of species found in 1991 (7 species from 2 families) with 4 of 7 of the expected fish taxa present.  Follow-up monitoring is needed to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats of this stream and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.