Milford Creek IA 06-LSR-1666

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results 1990 and 1995 IDNR stream use assessments conducted in Dickinson county.

Basis for Assessment

Continued to use the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses developed for the 1994 report (=PS).   A review of the field sheets from the October 1995 DNR stream use assessments shows a fish community in Milford Creek that lacks several of the expected species/ genera for Class B(LR) streams in this region.   Addtional monitoring is needed to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats of this stream, to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired, and to identify potential sources of any impairment.   Based on comments on the October 1990 field sheets, the impairments to the Class B(LR) uses suggested by the composition of the fish community may be related to the predominance of STP effluent in this creek.  Results of the October 1995 DNR fish survey showed a very diverse fish community of 19 species from 8 families, with much of this diversity due to presence of typically lake- dwelling species such as northern pike, yellow bass, largemouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, and walleye.   Although species of the minnow familty (Cyprinidae) typically dominate numerically in Iowa's Class B(LR) streams, the only cyprinid species captured at Milford was carp, and only 4 of the 11 fish taxa expected for Class B(LR) streams in the Des Moines Lobe (47b) subecoregion were present, thus suggesting some type of impairment.   Follow-up monitoring is needed.