Little Cedar River IA 02-CED-576

Assessment Comments

Assessment based on results of 2002 IDNR/UHL biocriteria sampling (Fish IBI= 69 (good), BM-IBI= 76 (excellent)).

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are assessed as “fully supported” based on results of IDNR/UHL biocriteria sampling in 2002.   Fish consumption uses are “not assessed” due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW) uses are assessed as “fully supported” based on data collected in 2002 as part of the DNR/UHL stream biocriteria project.   A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data.   The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach.   The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (F-IBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BM-IBI).   The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).   The 2002 Fish IBI score was 69 (good) and the BM-IBI score was 76 (excellent).  The aquatic life use support was assessed as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the F-IBI and BM-IBI scores with biological assessment criteria established for previous Section 305(b) reports.  The biological assessment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2001.   Fish consumption uses are “not assessed” due to the lack of recent fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.