West Branch Buffalo Creek IA 01-WPS-381

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in Buchanan county.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the October 1991 DNR stream use assessment in Buchanan County to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from PS to FST due to (1) presence of a moderately diverse fish community (9 species from 3 families) for streams in the Iowan Surface subecoregion (47c), (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (7 of 11) for streams in this subregion, and indications of some good quality habitat features, including diverse substrates and several pool/riffle sequences.   Field sheet indicates that the continued support of the Class B(LR) uses is threatened by frequent channel alterations including channel straightening and pasturing of the riparian zone and by frequent streambank erosion.   The data upon which this assessment is based are more than 5 years old.   Additional monitoring is needed to update this assessment and to better determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats.