Crabapple Creek IA 02-CED-502

Assessment Comments

Assessment based on results of IDNR/UHL biological (biocriteria) monitoring in 2001: FIBI = 57 (good), BMIBI = 69 (good). Non-riffle FIBI BIC = 44, natural substrate BMIBI BIC = 70.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported" based on results of IDNR/UHL biological (biocriteria) sampling in 2001.   This is the same assessment as that developed for the 2002 reporting cycle.

EXPLANATION:  This assessment was based on data collected in 2001 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 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were 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 2001 FIBI score was 57 (good) and the BM-IBI score was 69 (good).   The aquatic life use support was assessed 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 site FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 65 and the natural substrate BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 70.   Even though this site passed both the FIBI and BMIBI BICs (with the use of UAV +8), it is uncertain as to whether or not this segment is meeting the aquatic life criteria because it is a small general use stream and doesn’t fall in the calibrated watershed size.