Missouri River IA 06-WEM-1720

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on (1) surveys of Nebraska fisheries biologists and (2) consultation with DNR staff.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment for the Missouri River (IA 06-WEM-0040-0), which extended 63 miles from the Little Sioux River to the Big Sioux River, was split into three subsegments:  (1) Little Sioux River to Elm Creek near Decatur, NE (near Onawa in Monona Co.) (IA 06-WEM-0040-1 - this one), (2) Elm Creek to Omaha Creek Ditch near Homer, NE (near Salix in Woodbury Co.) (IA 06-WEM-0040-2), and (3) Omaha Creek Ditch to the Big Sioux River at Sioux City, Woodbury County.  (IA 06-WEM-0040-3).   See previous assessments from this subsegment for previous Section 305(b) assessments for the original 63-mile river segment of the Missouri River.]

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 are "not assessed."  EXPLANATION:  The Class A uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of monitoring data for indicator bacteria for this reach of the Missouri River.   The Class B(WW) uses remain assessed as "partially supported" based on the assessment developed for the 1998 and 2000 reports (i.e., habitat alterations and flow modifications that resulted from development of the river  for navigation uses in the mid-Twentieth Century).   This assessment was developed in consultation with the Missouri River fisheries biologist for the state of Nebraska.   Fish consumption uses are "not assessed" due to the lack of recent fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.