Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of 1996 Biocriteria sampling: Fish IBI=40 (fair).
Basis for Assessment
[NOTE: For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment for Little Rock River (IA 06-BSR-0060-0), which extended 46 miles from its mouth in Lyon County to the Iowa/Minnesota state line, was split into three subsegments: (1) from mouth to Otter Creek near George (IA 06-BSR-0060-1), (2) (this one) Otter Creek to Argo Slough near Little Rock (IA 06-BSR-0060-2), and (3) Argo Slough to the Iowa Minnesota state line (IA 06-BSR-0060-3). See assessment information found in this subsegment (IA 06-BSR-0060_2) for previous Section 305(b) assessments for the entire 46-mile reach.]
SUMMARY: The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported / threatened" (minor impacts). The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" to "evaluated." EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 and 2000 reports (see above) that was based on results of the 1996 IDNR biocriteria assessment. However, because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is changed from "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively high confidence) to "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively low confidence).
