Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of (1) an IDNR/UHL biocriteria sampling in 1996 & 2002: FIBI = 54 (good), 72 (excellent), BMIBI = 53 (fair), 71 (good) and (2) a fish kill and investigation in July 2002.
Basis for Assessment
[Note: Prior to the 2008 Section 305(b) cycle, this stream segment was designated only for Class B(WW) aquatic life uses, including fish consumption uses. Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S. EPA in February 2008 (see http://www.iowadnr.com/water/standards/files/06mar_swc.pdf), this segment is also now presumptively designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses. This segment remains designated for warmwater aquatic life use (now termed Class B(WW1) uses), and for fish consumption uses (now termed Class HH (human health/fish consumption uses).]
SUMMARY: The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment. The Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" due to the results of IDNR/UHL biological monitoring conducted in 1996 and 2002 as part of the stream biocriteria project. Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this stream segment. The sources of data for this assessment include (1) results of IDNR/UHL biological monitoring conducted in 1996 and 2002 as part of the stream biocriteria project and (2) report of a fish kill that occurred in July 2002.
EXPLANATION: Results of biological monitoring in 1996 and 2002 suggest that the aquatic life uses should be assessed (evaluated) as “partially supported.” This assessment was based on biological data collected in 1996 and 2002 as part of the IDNR/UHL stream biocriteria project. The 1996 FIBI score was 54 (good) and the BMIBI score was 53 (fair). The 2002 FIBI score was 72 (excellent) and the BMIBI score was 71 (good). The aquatic life use support was assessed as partially supporting (=PS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for previous Section 305(b) reports. The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2004. The riffle habitat FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 65 and the natural substrate BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 70. This segment passed the FIBI and BMIBI BICs 1/2 times in the last 13 years. The biological assessment was conducted on August 21, 2002, approximately one month following the July fish kill (see below). Thus, the potential exists that the kill influenced results of the biological assessment and may be related to the comment on the field sheet that numbers of fish were relatively low.
This aquatic life assessment is now considered "evaluated" based on a change in the 2010 IDNR assessment methodology. IDNR now requires a segment have two or more biological samples collected from the segment in multiple years between 2004 and 2008 to be considered “monitored”. This segment had multiple samples collected in the previous 13 years (1996-2008); however, the multiple samples were not collected during 2004-2008 and/or were not collected in multiple years. Additionally, because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is considered “evaluated” (indicating an assessment with relatively lower confidence) as opposed to "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively higher confidence). According to IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, impairments based on “evaluated” assessments are of lesser confidence and are thus not appropriate for Section 303(d) listing (Category 5 of the Integrated Report). IDNR does, however, consider these impairments as appropriate for listing under either Category 2b or 3b of the Integrated Report (waters potentially impaired and in need of further investigation).
A fish kill occurred on in this stream segment on July 27, 2002. The kill occurred after a rainfall event that followed a period of hot, dry weather. No cause or source was determined, although area feedlots were a suspected source of organic matter that potentially degraded water quality and caused the kill. Approximately 1 mile of stream was affected, and an estimated 970 fish were killed. According to IDNR's assessment methodology for Section 305(b) reporting, occurrence of a single pollution-caused fish kill within the most recent three-year period indicates ongoing impairment of the aquatic life uses. Also, according to IDNR’s assessment methodology, if a cause of a fishkill was not identified during the IDNR investigation (= "unknown"), or if the kill was attributed to non-pollutant causes (e.g., winterkill), the assessment type will be considered “evaluated.” Such assessments, although suitable for Section 305(b) reporting, lack the degree of confidence to support addition to the state Section 303(d) list of impaired waters (Category 5 of the Integrated Report). Waterbodies affected by such fish kills would be placed in IR subcategories 2b or 3b and could be added to the state’s list of “waters in need of further investigation”. However, the biological sampling was conducted in the same stream segment after the fishkill occurred and the results of that sampling suggest "full support" of aquatic life uses.
Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this stream segment.
