Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of an October 1995 IDNR stream use assessment.
Basis for Assessment
SUMMARY: The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "fully supported / threatened" (minor impacts) based biological monitoring and habitat assessment conducted as part of an IDNR stream use assessment in 1995. Due to the age of the data, however, the assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" (higher-confidence assessment) to "evaluated" (lower-confidence assessment).
EXPLANATION: The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses remain assessed as “fully supported / threatened” based on results of a 1995 IDNR stream use assessment (see the assessment developed for the 1998 and 2000 reporting cycles for more information). As stated in the assessment developed for the 2000 reporting cycle: A review of the field sheets from the October 1995 DNR stream use assessment showed (1) presence of a relatively diverse fish community for streams in the Des Moines Lobe (47b) subecoregion (16 species from 7 families) and (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (7 of 11) for streams in this subecoregion. According to DNR's assessment methodology for Section 305(b) reporting, these results suggested that the Class B(LR) aquatic life use should be assessed as "fully supported / threatened."
Because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category has been changed from "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively high confidence) to "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively low confidence).
