Upper Iowa River IA 01-UIA-245

Assessment Comments

Previous assessment was based on results of DNR stream use assessment in September 1995; no recent water quality information. See attached document for details.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment IA 01-UIA-0120-3, which extended 29 miles from River Mile 86 to the Iowa/Minnesota state line, was split into two subsegments:  (1) River Mile 86 to an unnamed tributary in Howard County (IA 01-UIA-0120-4) and (2) unnamed tributary in Howard County to the Iowa/Minnesota state line (IA 01-UIA-0120-5).   The assessment information above applies to the original 29-mile waterbody segment (IA 01-UIA-0120-3).]

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported."  The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" to "evaluated."  Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  EXPLANATION:  Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report (see above) that was based on results of the 1995 IDNR stream use assessment.   However, because these data are now considered too old 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).   Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this stream segment.