Maquoketa River IA 01-MAQ-16

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on 2002 REMAP data: Fish IBI = 59 (good), BM-IBI = 57 (good); 2002 Fisheries data: Fish IBI = 71 (excellent), 60 (good), 48 (fair) and (3) U.S. EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring in 2002.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses are “not assessed” due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessments.   The Class B(WW) are assessed (monitored) as “fully supported/threatened” based on results of DNR/UHL biological (REMAP) monitoring in 2002 and 2002 IDNR Fisheries sampling.   Fish consumption uses are assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on results of U.S.  EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring in 2002.

EXPLANATION:  The assessment was based on data collected in 2002 as part of the DNR/UHL REMAP project (Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program) and on data collected in 2002 by the Manchester Fisheries sampling program.   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 59 (good) and the BM-IBI score was 57 (good).  The 2002 Fisheries Fish IBI scores were 48 (fair), 60 (good) and 71 (excellent).   The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting/threatened (=FS/T), 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 were assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on results of U.S.  EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring in 2002 at Bailey’s Ford Access southeast of Manchester in Delaware County.   This monitoring showed that composite samples of fillets from channel catfish and largemouth bass had very low levels of contaminants.   Neither sample contained levels of contaminants that approached even one-half the respective FDA action levels or IDNR levels of concern.   Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of channel catfish fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.056 ppm; total PCBs: 0.090 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm.   Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of largemouth bass fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.196 ppm; total PCBs: <0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm.