Elk Run IA 02-CED-544

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in Black Hawk County.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the June 1992 DNR stream use assessment in Black Hawk County to continue to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as PS due to (1) relatively low fish community diversity (6 species from 3 families) for streams in the Iowan Surface subecoregion (47c), (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (3 of 11) for streams in this subregion, (3) indications on the field sheet of only "fair" aquatic habitats, although the only significant impact to the physical characteristics of the stream noted was frequent streambank erosion (note: this stream assessment was conducted in a park area where riparian conditions are typically much improved over privately-owned portions of the stream corridor), and (4) notes indicating a possible fish health problem.  Follow-up monitoring is needed to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.