Soldier River IA 06-SOL-1674

Assessment Comments

Assessment remains based on 2004 IDNR/SHL biological sampling data: FIBI = 32 (fair), BMIBI = 48 (fair). FIBI BIC = 31; BMIBI BIC = 54.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  Prior to the 2008 Section 305(b) cycle, this stream segment was designated only for Class B(WW) aquatic life uses, including fish consumption uses.   Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S.  EPA in February 2008 (see http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/water/standards/files/swcdoc2.pdf), this segment is also now presumptively designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses.   This segment remains designated for warmwater aquatic life use (now termed Class B(WW1) uses), and for fish consumption uses (now termed Class HH (human health/fish consumption uses).]

SUMMARY/EXPLANATION:  The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) and Class HH (human health/fish consumption) uses remain "not assessed" (IR 3a) due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.  

The Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "fully supporting" based on biological data collected in 2004 as part of the IDNR/SHL stream REMAP project.   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 collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI).   The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2004 FIBI score was 32 (fair) and the BMIBI score was 48 (fair).   The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for previous Section 305(b) reports.   The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008.   The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 31 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 54.   This segment passed the FIBI BIC and also passed the BMIBI BIC with the aid of the BMIBI UAV of 8 points in 2004.  

This aquatic life assessment is considered "evaluated" because there were not two or more samples collected from this segment in multiple years over a five-year period.   Additionally, because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is considered “evaluated” (indicating an assessment with relatively lower confidence) as opposed to "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively higher confidence).   Despite this change in assessment methodology and type, this waterbody remains in IR Category 2a.