Wapsipinicon River IA 01-WPS-346

Assessment Comments

USGS/NAWQA fish tissue sampling near Tripoli in 1995.

Basis for Assessment

Used results of fish tissue monitoring conducted for the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program in the eastern Iowa river basins study area in September 1995.  The whole fish composite sample of white sucker was analyzed for several oranochlorine compounds, including chlordane, dieldrin, DDT and PCBs.   Levels of these contaminants in the composite sample were relatively low compared to the other 15 sites in the study.   Thus, assess support of fish consumption uses as FS.  See USGS Fact Sheet FS-027-97 (March 1997) for more information.  Information from the March/April Iowa Conservationst suggests that the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are fully supported; i.e., this reach is identified as providing good angling opportunities for northern pike.   Additional information, however, is needed on the status of the aquatic communities of this river reach in order to develop an accurate assessment of support of the Class B(WW) uses.