Assessment Comments
Stream use assessment in Black Hawk County. Fish kill in 1996.
Basis for Assessment
Used a review of the field sheets from the June 1992 DNR stream use assessments at Cedar Falls to continue to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as PS due to (1) relatively low fish community diversity (species/families, dstr->upstr: 7/4; 8/3) for streams in the Iowan Surface subecoregion, despite fairly thorough coverage with backpack electrofisher, (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (5 of 11) at the downstream site, and just over a majority (6 of 11) at the usptream site, for streams in this subregion, and (3) indications on the field sheets of impacts to the physical characteristics of this stream, including frequent channel altertations (straightening and removal of riparian vegetation) and streambank erosion. 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. A fish kill was reported at Cedar Falls on July 25, 1996. Approximately 0.3 miles of stream was affected with over 60 fish killed. No other information regarding this kill is available.
