Wapsipinicon River IA 01-WPS-340

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of (1) 2006 IDNR/UHL stream REMAP biological sampling, (2) IDNR Fisheries Bureau fish sampling in 2003 and (3) U.S. EPA/IDNR fish contaminant monitoring in 2006.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment.   The Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as "fully supported" based on the IDNR/UHL stream REMAP biological sampling conducted in 2006 and IDNR Fisheries Bureau sampling in 2003.   Fish consumption uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported" based on results of U.S.  EPA/IDNR fish contaminant monitoring in 2006.  

EXPLANATION:  The Class A1 and Class B(WW1) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of water quality information for this segment upon which to base an assessment.  

This evaluated biological assessment was based on data collected in 2006 as part of the DNR/UHL stream REMAP project.   A series of biological metrics that reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data.   The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI).   The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2006 FIBI score was 65 (good) and the BMIBI score was 48 (fair).   The IDNR Fisheries Bureau 2003 FIBI score was 50 (fair).   The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2004.   The non-riffle habitat FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 44 and the artificial substrate BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 52.   This assessment is considered evaluated because the drainage areas (1305 and 1263 mi2) above this sampling sites was greater than the maximum limit (500 mi2) that was used to calibrate the Iowa wadeable stream impairment criteria.   Even though this site passed both the FIBI BIC and BMIBI BIC (using the UAV of 8 points), it is uncertain as to whether or not this segment is meeting the aquatic life criteria because it doesn’t fall in the calibrated watershed size.

Fish consumption uses were assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on results of U.S.EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring near Central City in 2006.   The composite sample of fillets from channel catfish had low levels of contaminants.   Levels of primary contaminants were as follows: mercury: 0.263 ppm; total PCBs: 0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: < 0.03 ppm.   The existence of, or potential for, a fish consumption advisory is the basis for Section 305(b) assessments of the degree to which Iowa’s lakes and rivers support their fish consumption uses.   Prior to 2006, IDNR used action levels published by the U.S Food and Drug Administration to determine whether consumption advisories should be issued for fish caught as part of recreational fishing in Iowa.   In an effort to make Iowa’s consumption more compatible with the various protocols used by adjacent states, the Iowa Department of Public Health, in cooperation with Iowa DNR, developed a risk-based advisory protocol.   This protocol went into effect in January 2006 (see http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/news/consump.html for more information on Iowa’s revised fish consumption advisory protocol).   The levels of contaminants in the sample analyzed for the 2006 RAFT program do not exceed any of the new (2006) advisory trigger levels, thus indicating no justification for issuance of a consumption advisory for this waterbody.