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

[Note:  For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment IA 02-IOW-0090-0, which extended 26 miles from its mouth to its confluence with South Fork Long Creek near Ainsworth, was split into three subsegments:  (1) from its mouth (S1, T74N, R4W, Louisa Co.) to confluence with unnamed tributary in N1/2, S21, T74N, R4W, Louisa Co.   (IA 02-IOW-0090-1), (2) from confluence with unnamed tributary in N1/2, S21, T74N, R4W, Louisa Co.  to N line, S3, T74N, R5W, Louisa Co.  (IA 02-IOW-0090-2), and (3) from N line, S3, T74N, R5W, Louisa Co.  to confluence with  S.  Fork.  Long Cr.  in S26, T75N, R6W, Washington Co.  (IA 02-IOW-0090-3).   See assessment information for segment IA 02-IOW-0090-2 for earlier Section 305(b) assessments for the original 26-mile stream reach.]

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported."  The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" to "evaluated."  EXPLANATION:  Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report (see above) that was based on results of the 1995 IDNR biocriteria assessment.   However, because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is changed from "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively high confidence) to "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively low confidence).