Bear Creek IA 02-IOW-701

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in Poweshiek County.

Basis for Assessment

Continued to use the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses developed for the 1996 report (=PS).   Although the fish species collected during the August 1994 DNR stream use assessment approach a typical Class B(LR) fish community for the region, several species/ genera are missing.   In addition, indentification of an "extensive" influence of wastewater treatment on WQ suggests the need to conduct follow-up monitoring to determine the current status of the aquatic communities and habitats and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.  Review of field sheet from the May 1994 DNR stream use assessment shows relatively low fish community diversity (6 species from 2 families) & less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (4 of 8) for streams in the Southern Iowa Rolling Loess Prairies subecoregion.