Little Cedar River IA 02-CED-574

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment and biocriteria monitoring in 1995.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the August 1995 DNR stream use assessment at Colwell Park, and the results of the October 1995 DNR biocriteria sampling near the same location, to upgrade support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses from FST to FS due to (1) presence of a very diverse fish community (species/families, SUA->BC: 22/5; 31/5) for streams in the Iowan Surface subecoregion (47c), (2) presence of nearly all the expected fish taxa (SUA:  9 of 11; BC:  10 of 11) for streams in this subregion, (3) presence of two of the expected game fish species (smallmouth bass (32 collected) and channel catfish (15 collected), (4) indications of the SUA field sheet of high quality aquatic habitats and riparian area (although sampling was conducted in a park area) with no significant threats to continued support of the Class B(WW) uses noted, and (5) presence of a variety of environmentally sensitive species (e.g., largescale stoneroller, rosyface shiner, northern hogsucker, smallmouth bass, Iowa darter, banded darter, and logperch).