Deep Creek IA 01-VOL-1876
confluence with unnamed tributary (T92N R7W Sec2) to headwaters (T92N R7W Sec23)
- Cycle
- 2016
- Release Status
- Final
- Overall IR
- 2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 8/30/2016 10:38:07 AM
- Updated
- 11/29/2016 11:24:31 AM
The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" (IR 3a)due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment. The presumptive Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as “fully supported” (IR 2a) based on results of IDNR/SHL biological sampling conducted in 2005 and 2012.
The (evaluated) assessment of the presumptive Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses was based on data collected in 2005 and 2012 as part of the IDNR/SHL headwater stream sampling project. A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data. The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI). The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 2005 FIBI score was 70 (good) and the BMIBI score was 79 (excellent). The 2012 FIBI score was 73 (excellent) and the BMIBI score was 84 (excellent). The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008. The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 52 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 61. Even though this site passed the FIBI and BMIBI BICs, it is uncertain as to whether or not this segment is meeting the aquatic life criteria because it is a small headwater stream and doesn’t fall in the calibrated watershed size.