Fenchel Creek (a.k.a. Richmond Springs) IA 01-MAQ-59
mouth (S5 T90N R6W Delaware Co.) to Richmond Springs in center S4 T90N R6W Delaware Co.
- Cycle
- 2018
- Release Status
- Final
- Overall IR
- 2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 5/8/2019 7:19:31 AM
- Updated
- 8/29/2019 11:16:54 AM
The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses, Class A2 (secondary contact recreation) uses and Class HH (fish consumption) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment. The Class B(CW1) coldwater aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported" based on the January 2019 summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams as prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau and the 2007 DNR/SHL biological sampling data.
The assessment of the Class B(CW1) aquatic life uses was based on data collected in 2007 as part of the DNR/SHL coldwater stream sampling project. A series of biological metrics which reflect coldwater stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biological sampling data. The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa that were collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined to make a coldwater benthic index (CBI). The index ranks the biological integrity of a coldwater stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 2007 CBI score was 65.The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the CBI score with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for the 2012 Section 305(b) report.The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at coldwater stream reference sites from 1994-2011.The CW BIC is 60 and this segment passed the CW BIC 1/1 times in 2007. This aquatic life assessment is now considered "evaluated" based on a change in the 2010 DNR assessment methodology. DNR now requires a segment have two or more biological samples collected from the segment in multiple years over a five-year period to be considered “monitored”. This segment had a single sample collected in 2007. Despite this change in assessment methodology and type, this waterbody remains in IR Category 2a. In addition, based on a summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau in January 2019, the Class B(CW1) uses are assessed as "fully supported". According to the updated summary, Richmond Springs is in the group of Iowa coldwater streams that supports natural reproduction of trout. Based on results of surveys by the DNR Fisheries Bureau, this stream is placed in the category of Iowa trout streams that have fairly consistent natural reproduction and that are capable of maintaining a viable population of Brown Trout without any stocking (a Category I stream). This assessment is consistent with previous assessments of the ability of this stream to support natural reproduction of trout.