Turkey River IA 01-TRK-152

Assessment Comments

Assessment based on results of (1) IDNR/UHL 2002 REMAP data: Fish IBI= 84 (excellent), BM-IBI= 71 (good) and (2) EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring conducted in 1999.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are assessed as "fully supported" based on results of DNR/UHL biological monitoring.   The fish consumption uses remain assessed as "fully supported" based on results of U.S.  EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring in 1999.  

EXPLANATION: The Class B(WW) aquatic life assessment was based on data collected in 2002 as part of the DNR/UHL REMAP project.   A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data.   The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (F-IBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BM-IBI).   The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2002 Fish IBI score was 84 (excellent) and the BM-IBI score was 71 (good).  The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the F-IBI and BM-IBI scores with biological assessment criteria established for previous Section 305(b) reports.   The biological assessment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2001.

Fish consumption uses remain assessed as "fully supporting" based on results of EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 1999 near Clermont (see assessment for the 2000 report).