Little Sioux River IA 06-LSR-1567

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of U.S. EPA / IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring near Washta in 1998 & 2000. See attached document for details.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment for the Little Sioux River (IA 06-LSR-0020-2), which extended 53 miles from Big Creek at Anthon to Mill Creek (=Highway 3 at Cherokee) (Cherokee Co.), was split into two subsegments:  (1) Big Creek near Anthon to Willow Creek near Washta (IA 06-LSR-0020-2) and (2) Willow Creek to Highway 3 at Cherokee (IA 06-LSR-0020-3 - this one).   See previous Section 305(b) assessments from subsegment IA 06-LSR-0020_2 for assessments for the original 53-mile river subsegment.]

For the 2002 report:  SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain "not assessed."  The fish consumption uses were remain assessed as "fully supported."  This assessment is based on results of U.S.  EPA / IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring near Washta (Cherokee Co.) in 1997, 1998 and 2000.   EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of water quality information for this river reach (see assessments for the 1998 and 2000 reports above).   Fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported" based on results of EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 2000 near Washta (station 008713).   Similar to results of previous RAFT trend sampling at this location in 1997 and 1998, levels of all contaminants in the composite samples of whole-fish carp were less than ½ of the respective FDA action levels.   These results suggest continued full support of the fish consumption uses.