Hawkeye Wildlife Area IA 02-IOW-632

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on surveys by the DNR Wildlife Bureau.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The aquatic life uses remained assessed as "partially supported."  Primary contact recreation uses and fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  EXPLANATION:  The aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported" based on review and approval of the previous (2000) assessment by the DNR Wildlife Bureau in 2002.   According to the local DNR Wildlife Biologist (Thompson), this wetland area continues to receive sediment.   A report from the U.S.  Army Corps of Engineers, however, states that the rate of sedimentation has been less than originally predicted.   The assessment category for this wetland of "evaluated" indicates that the assessment is based on "best professional judgement."  In terms of Section 305(b) reporting, "monitored assessments" are based primarily on recent, site-specific ambient monitoring data and thus have relatively high confidence.   IDNR considers waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "monitored assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.   "Evaluated assessments" are those based on data older than five years or other than site-specific ambient monitoring data (e.g., questionnaire surveys of fish and game biologists [=best professional judgement]) and thus have relatively lower confidence.   IDNR does not consider waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "evaluated assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.   The primary contact recreation uses remain "not assessed" due to a lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment.   In general, Iowa wetlands are not managed to support primary contact recreation.   Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  In general, Iowa wetlands are not managed for recreational fisheries; thus, fish contaminant monitoring is not typically conducted at these waterbodies.