Assessment Comments
1998 Biocriteria: Fish IBI= 48(fair).
Basis for Assessment
The assessment was based on data collected in 1998 as part of the DNR/UHL stream biocriteria project. A series of biological metrics which 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 fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (F-IBI). The index ranks the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 1998 Fish IBI score was 48 (fair). The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting / threatened (=FST), based on a comparison of the F-IBI score with the biological assessment criteria established specifically for the 2002 Section 305(b) report. The biological assessment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2001.
