Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring SE of Independence in 2000.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment IA 01-WPS-0020-1, which extended 108 miles from the confluence with Buffalo Creek at Anamosa to Snyder Access in Bremer County, was split into seven subsegments:  (1) Buffalo Creek at Anamosa to Walton Creek  in Linn County (IA 01-WPS-0020-1), (2) Walton Creek to Pine Creek in Buchanan Co.  (IA 01-WPS-0020-2), (3) Pine Creek to Harter Creek in Buchanan Co.  (IA 01-WPS-0020-3), (4) Harter Creek to L.  Wapsipinicon River in Buchanan Co.  (IA 01-WPS-0020-4), (5) L.  Wapsipinicon River to Crane Creek in Black Hawk Co.  (IA 01-WPS-0020-5), Crane Creek to East Fork Wapsipinicon River in Bremer Co.  (IA 01-WPS-0020-6), and East Fork Wapsipinicon River to Snyder Access in Bremer Co.  (IA 01-WPA-0020-7).   See assessment information for segment IA 01-WPS-0020-1 (Buffalo Creek at Anamosa to Walton Creek  in Linn County) for previous Section 305(b) assessments for this river reach.]

SUMMARY:  Class A (primary contact recreation) uses and the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were not assessed.   Fish consumption uses assessed as "fully supported."  The source of data for these assessments is results of EPA/IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 2000 approximately 1 mile southeast of Independence.   EXPLANATION:  The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses and Class B(WW) uses were not assessed due to lack of water quality monitoring information for this river segment.   The fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported" based on results of EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring in 2000 downstream from Independence that showed levels of contaminants in composite samples of fillets from channel catfish and smallmouth bass were very low and were less than ½ the respective FDA action levels and DNR levels of concern.