South Pine Creek IA 01-UIA-263
mouth (S26 T99N R7W Winneshiek Co.) to north line of S21 T99N R7W Winneshiek Co.
- Assessment Cycle
- 2018
- Release Status
- Final
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 5/8/2019 9:18:20 AM
- Updated
- 8/30/2019 7:32:07 AM
The Class B(CW1) coldwater aquatic life uses are assessed as "fully supported" based on 2010 and 2014 DNR/SHL biological sampling and on the January 2019 summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau. The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses, Class A2 (secondary contact recreation) uses and Class HH (fish consumption) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.
Based on an updated summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau in January 2019, the Class B(CW1) uses remain assessed as "fully supported". According to the updated summary, Pine Creek is in the group of Iowa coldwater streams that supports natural reproduction of trout. Based on results of surveys by the DNR Fisheries Bureau, this stream is placed in the category of Iowa trout streams that exhibit consistent natural reproduction and maintain a wild population of the listed species (Brook and Brown trout) without any stocking (a Category I stream). In addition, the assessment of the Class B(CW1) aquatic life uses was based on data collected in 2010 and 2014 as part of the DNR/SHL coldwater stream sampling project. A series of biological metrics which reflect coldwater stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biological sampling data. The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa that were collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined to make a coldwater benthic index (CBI). The index ranks the biological integrity of a coldwater stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 2010 CBI score was 77 and the 2014 CBI score was 71. The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the CBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for the 2012 Section 305(b) report.The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at coldwater stream reference sites from 1994-2011.The CW BIC is 60 and this segment passed the CW BIC 2/2 times in the previous seven years.