Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in 1992.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the July 1992 DNR stream use assessment conducted near Butler/ Black Hawk county line to continue to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as "fully supported/threatened" due to (1) moderately diverse fish community (11 species from 4 families) for streams in the Iowan Surface subecoregion (47c), (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (6 of 11) for streams in this subregion, and (3) indications of field sheet of above average quality of aquatic habitats and riparian zone, with the only significant threat to the physcial characteristics of the stream being streambank erosion (although riparian zone is protected by buffer of mature trees).   Despite indications of full support, relatively few fish species were captured, and numbers per species were relatively low.   One expected game fish species (smallmouth bass) was present in low numbers, but habitat to support this game fish species was limited.   Additional sampling is needed at other locations in this Class B(WW) reach of Beaver Creek to better determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats.