Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of a DNR stream use assessment in September 1994. See attached document for details.
Basis for Assessment
As of Sept. 1994, reach not yet designated in Iowa WQS; reach not assessed for 1994 report. Reach designated for Class B(WW) aquatic life uses in June 1995.
For 1996 report, used results of two DNR stream use assessments to assess the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) presence of primary sport fish species (channel catfish) in both collections, (2) field notes that indicate "many holes too deep to seine; lots of tree snags," (3) indication on review forms that reaches assessed are not extensively channelized (and extensive channelization is the primary impact to support of aquatic life uses in the English River basin; i.e., leads to reduction in habitat locally and destabilization of stream banks in downstream reaches; and (4) riparian area strongly to moderately timbered.
For the 1998 report, used a review of the field sheets from the October 1990 and September 1994 DNR stream use assessments in Washington County to continue to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST due to (1) indications of good water quality at the DNR WQ monitoring station at Riverside, (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa (6 of 8) in the 1994 assessment, (3) presence of the expected game fish species (channel catfish) in both assessments, and (4) indications on field sheets of relatively few impacts to physical characteristics of this stream reach, with frequent streambank erosion a problem. Both the 1990 and 1994 assessments were hindered by water to deep to wade and sample. Additional monitoring is needed to better define the aquatic communities and habitats of this stream.
For the 2000 report: SUMMARY: The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain "fully supported / threatened." EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report (see above) that was based on the September 1994 DNR stream use assessment in Washington County. The results of the 1994 DNR stream use assessment are approximately 5 years old and thus can be used to assess current water quality conditions.
For the 2002 report: SUMMARY: The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported / threatened" (minor impacts). The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" to "evaluated." Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed." EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report (see above) that was based on results of the 1994 IDNR stream use 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). Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this stream segment.
