Maple Creek IA 06-LSR-1597

Assessment Comments

1997 Biocriteria: Fish IB I= 35 (fair), BM-IBI = 70 (good).

Basis for Assessment

Used results of the August 1997 DNR watershed bioassessment conducted 1.5 mi NNE of Aurelia to update the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses developed for the 1994 report.   Used results of the 1997 bioassessment to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) uses from PS to FST due to (1) presence of a relatively diverse fish community (13 species from 4 families) for streams in the Northwest Iowa Loess Prairies subecoregion, (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (7 of 9) for streams in this subecoregion, and (3) lack of violations of Class B(LR) WQ criteria in the sample collected during the bioassessment.   As identified in the assessment developed for the 1994 report, threats to the continued support of the Class B(LR) uses include pasturing of riparian area, channelization, and streambank erosion.