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 2000 and 2002.

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.]

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment.   The fish consumption uses remain assessed (monitored) as "fully supported" based on results of U.S.  EPA / IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring near Washta (Cherokee Co.) in 2000 and 2002.   This assessment is the same as that used for the adjacent downstream segment (IA 06-LSR-0020-2).

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of water quality information for this river reach.  

Fish consumption uses remain assessed as "fully supported" based on results of EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) trend monitoring in 2000 and 2002 near Washta (U.S.  EPA STORET station 008713).   Similar to results of previous RAFT trend sampling at this location, levels of all contaminants in the composite samples of whole-fish common carp collected in 2000 and 2002 were less than ½ of the respective FDA action levels.   These results suggest continued full support of the fish consumption uses.