Dry Branch IA 01-TRK-206

Assessment Comments

1992 stream use assessment in Fayette County.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the May 1992 DNR stream use assessment in Fayette county to downgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from FST to PS due to (1) relatively low fish community diversity (6 species from 1 family) for streams in the Driftless Area ecoregion (52), (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (4 of 9) for streams in this region, (3) occurrence of a fish kill in June 1995 due to animal waste from a feedlot, and (4) notes on field sheet regarding "very limited habitat." Despite these indications of partial support of the Class B(LR) uses, the field sheet indicates above average habitat quality due to presence of diverse substrates, presence of several pool/riffle sequences, and only minor impacts to the physical characteristics of this stream from channel alterations and streambank erosion.  Follow-up monitoring is needed to better determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats of this stream and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.