Bear Creek IA 01-VOL-298

south line of S18 T91N R4W (Clayton Co.) to west line of S23 T91N R5W Clayton Co

Open Data Collection Period Modal

For purposes of developing stream/river water quality assessments for integrated reporting, three years of water quality data are typically used for both conventional pollutant parameters (e.g., indicator bacteria) and the less frequently monitored toxic parameters (e.g., toxic metals). Since the 2004 IR cycle, DNR has used a three-year data gathering period for streams, rivers, and beaches. For most assessments, the use of three years of data increases the number of samples upon which the decision on use support is based and helps address the problem of weather-related year-to-year fluctuations in water quality.

Due to the lower sampling frequency in Iowa’s ambient lake, biological, fish kill, and fish tissue monitoring programs, five years of data are used for developing IR assessments and for identifying Section 303(d) listings.

Data Type	Data Timeframe
Beach Sampling Data	CY 2020 - 2022
Stream/River Water Quality Data	CY 2020 - 2022
Lake Water Quality Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Biological Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022*
Fish Kill Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Fish Tissue Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022
*Biological sites sampled in both 2017 and 2021 were also assessed.

Open Segment Map
View assessment methodology in new window

Cycle: 2024
Release Status: Final
Overall IR: 3 - Insufficient data exist to determine whether any designated uses are met.
Trend: Unknown
Created: 11/1/2023 8:12:37 AM
Updated: 1/9/2024 2:17:26 PM

Use Support

Class A1

Presumptive Use

Recreation - Primary contact

Not Assessed

Class A2

Recreation - Secondary contact

Not Assessed

Class BCW1

Aquatic Life - Cold Water Type 1

WINOFI

Biological: low aquatic macroinvertebrate IBI

Support Level

Further Investigation Needed

Impairment Code

3b-c - Use potentially biologically impaired based on calibrated IBI metrics.

Cause Magnitude

Slight

Status

Continuing

Source

Unknown: Source Unknown

Source Confidence

Low

Cycle Added

2012

Impairment Rationale

Low Biotic Index

Data Source

Biological monitoring: Iowa DNR WQMA

Class HH

Human Health -

Not Assessed

Impairment Delistings

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The Class BCW1 use was assessed as "WINOFI" based on biological sampling data. All other designated uses were "not assessed."

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source	Data Source ID	Data Type	Data Age	Site ID	Site Name	Site Description
Iowa DNR	6	BIO	See Below	409	Bear Creek	Edgewood – Bixby Preserve
Iowa DNR	6	BIO	See Below	473	Bear Creek	Edgewood – REMAP #155

Presumptive Class A1 - No Data

Class A2 - No Data

Class BCW1 - Biological Sampling:

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

BioNet Site ID	Date	Drainage Area (mi2)	Ecoregion	Major Drainage/ Thermal	BM Sample Gear	CBI score	CBI Class	CBI BIT	CBI Pass/ Fail
473	7/12/05	6	52b	MS/CW	Surb	61	NA	60	Pass
409	9/9/04	6	52b	MS/CW	Hess	43	NA	60	Fail

Overall Assessment:

Community	Assessment Type	Assessment Result	Support Level	IR Category	Reason
Benthic Macroinvertebrates	Evaluated	Fail (1/2)	WINOFI	3bc	Assessment was evaluated because samples used to complete the assessment weren’t collected in the last five years.

Class BCW1 - Natural Trout Reproduction:

Based on the January 2024 summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau, the Class BCW1 coldwater aquatic life use of Bear Creek was assessed as "fully supported.” According to the updated summary, this stream was placed in Category II: streams that exhibit recent but inconsistent reproductive success and occasional stocking may be needed to maintain the trout population.

Class HH - No Data

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

9/9/2004

Biological Monitoring

7/12/2005

Biological Monitoring

1/1/2024

Biological Monitoring

Methods

120

Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals

150

Monitoring data more than 5 years old

315

Regional reference site approach

320

Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys