Prairie Creek IA 02-CED-509

Assessment Comments

Five stream use assessments in Benton and Linn counties.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheets from the three November 1990 DNR stream use assessments in Linn County to continue to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as FST due to presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (6 of 11) at two of the three sites assessed (sampling results believed to be negatively influenced by late season collection) and (2) indications on field sheet of above average quality of aquatic habitats and condition of the riparian zone.   Field sheets did not indicate any significant threats to the physical characteristics of this reach of Prairie Creek.   Supporting evidence for the assessment as FST comes from the April 1990 DNR fish survey east of Norway.  This survey showed a better fish community diversity (11 species from 5 families) than did the November 1990 surveys and showed the presence of a larger number of the expected fish taxa for the Iowa Surface subecoregion (9 of 11).   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 define the status of the aquatic communities of Prairie Creek.