Mosquito Creek IA 06-WED-1699

Assessment Comments

Assessment based on results of IDNR stream use assessment conducted in Pottawattamie county.

Basis for Assessment

For the 1998 report, continued to use the assessment of support of the Class B(WW) uses developed for the 1994 report (=PS).  Despite occurrence of a regionally diverse fish community at one assessment location (11 spp., 5 fams) including game fish species (adult channel catfish and flathead catfish), this stream is probably not appropriately designated a Class B(WW) stream.   Physical alterations to the stream corridor and aquatic habitats limit the deep water habitats needed for adult game fish, especially during low flow conditions.   Additional monitoring is needed to better assess the status of the aquatic communities and habitats, to determine the degree to which the Class B(WW) uses may be impaired, and to determine whether this segment of Mosquito Creek is appropriately classfied for beneficial uses.   The data upon which this assessment is based are more than 5 years old.   Thus, the 305(b) assessment category was changed from "monitored" to "evaluated."