Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of DNR ambient monthly monitoring near St. Joseph.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported."  Fish consumption uses remain "fully supported."  The source of data for this assessment is results from the IDNR ambient monthly monitoring station near St.  Joseph in Kossuth County (station 10550001).   EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) uses are assessed as "fully supported."  Results of monitoring at the St.  Joseph station during the 2000-2001 biennial period show no violations of Class B(WW) (aquatic life) water quality criteria in the 24 samples analyzed for dissolved oxygen, pH, and ammonia, in the four samples analyzed for toxic metals, or in the six samples analyzed for pesticides and other toxic organic compounds.   These results suggest that the aquatic life uses of this river segment are "fully supported."  Fish consumption uses are "not assessed" due to the lack of recent fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.   The most recent fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment occurred near Algona in 1995 (see assessment developed for the 2000 report above).   Results from this monitoring are now considered too old (greater than five years) for characterizing current water quality conditions.