Indian Slough IA 02-IOW-1771

Assessment Comments

Assessment remains based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.

Basis for Assessment

Note:  this waterbody was not included in the July 2003 version of the Iowa Water Quality Standards.

SUMMARY:  The Class aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as "fully supported” based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.   Due only to a change in IDNR's assessment/listing methodology, the 2004 assessment of the aquatic life uses ["fully supporting / threatened" (minor impacts)] is changed to "fully supporting".   Other than this change in methodology, this new (2006) assessment is the same as that developed for the previous (2004) assessment/listing cycle (not impaired) and does not reflect any known change in water quality.

EXPLANATION:  The aquatic life uses are assessed as "fully supported" based on information from the Iowa DNR Wildlife Bureau.   At the recommendation of U.S.  EPA Region 7, IDNR's 2006 assessment/listing methodology was changed to eliminate use of the "fully supported/threatened" (not impaired) category.   Thus, previous assessments identified as "fully supported/threatened" (not impaired) were changed to "fully supported" for the 2006 assessment/listing cycle.   This change does not alter the 2004 assessment:  this waterbody remains in IR Category 1.