Missouri River IA 06-WEM-1707

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on surveys of Nebraska fisheries biologists and consultation with DNR staff.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed."  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported."  The fish consumption uses were considered "not assessed."  EXPLANATION:  The Class A uses remained "not assessed" due to the lack of monitoring data for indicator bacteria for this reach of the Missouri River.   The Class B(WW) uses remained assessed as "partially supported" based on the assessment developed for the 1998 report (see above).   This assessment was developed in consultation with the Missouri River fisheries biologist for the state of Nebraska.   Fish consumption uses were changed from "fully supported" to "not assessed" due to the lack of recent fish tissue monitoring data from this reach of river.   The most recent monitoring was conducted in 1993 near Nebraska City as part of the EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring program.   These data are now considered too old (greater than five years) for characterizing current contaminant levels in Missouri River fish.