Assessment Comments

1994 biocriteria sampling conducted approximately 1/2 mile downstream from confluence with Little Paint Creek.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the results of the September 1994 DNR biocriteria sampling in Allamakee County to continue to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) presence of a very diverse fish community (19 species from 8 families) including several environmentally sensitive species (e.g., longnose dace, rainbow trout, and mud darter), (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (6 of 9) for streams in the Driftless Area ecoregion (52), and indications of high quality aquatic habitats and riparian corridor.   Depite the large number of species captured, a suprisingly low number of the expected number of fish taxa (6 of 9) were present.   Possible explanations include influence of coldwater inputs to the stream limiting warmwater species, influence of sediment inputs or inputs of other pollutants higher up in the watershed.   The only game fish species captured was rainbow trout.