Long Creek IA 02-IOW-660

Assessment Comments

1995 biocriteria: habscr/fshscr=27/12 (shock); 1995 Biocriteria: Fish IBI= 56(good), BM-IBI= 46(fair).

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the July 1991 DNR stream use assessment in Washington County (near Class B(LR) boundary), and a review of results of the 1995 biocriteria sampling in Louisa County, to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from FST to FS due to results of the 1995 DNR biocriteria sampling south of Columbus Junction.   This sampling showed (1) presence of an exceptionally diverse fish community (32 species from 9 families) for streams in the Mississippi River portion of the Southern Iowa Rolling Loess Prairies (47f) (or any stream in Iowa), (2) presence of all the expected fish taxa (8 of 8) for streams in this region, and (3) above average aquatic habitats and condition of the riparian corridor.   The field sheet from the 1991 DNR stream use assessment indicated extensive infestation of "hookworm" (presume anchorworm) in fish from the SUA site near Washington.   No such information was obtained at the 1995 biocriteria site; thus, presume that this condition did not persist.   Additonal monitoring, however, should be conducted at the 1991 SUA site to ensure that the fish populations in this reach of Long Creek are healthy.