Bear Creek IA 02-IOW-701

Assessment Comments

Assessment historically based on 1999 IDNR/SHL biological sampling data: FIBI = 49 (fair); BMIBI = 45 (fair). FIBI BIC = 36, BMIBI BIC = 51. Due to the age of these data (>10 years), the aquatic life uses are now considered "not assessed".

Basis for Assessment

Assessment historically based on 1999 IDNR/SHL biological sampling data (see below).   Due to the age of these data (>10 years), the aquatic life uses are now considered "not assessed".

[Note:  Prior to the 2008 Section 305(b) cycle, this stream segment was designated only for Class B(LR) aquatic life uses.   Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S.  EPA in February 2008, this segment is now presumptively designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses.   The stream remains designated for aquatic life uses (now termed Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses).   Thus, for the current (2012) assessment, the available water quality monitoring data will be compared to the applicable Class A1 and Class B(WW2) water quality criteria.]

SUMMARY:  The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.   The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "fully supporting" based on results of IDNR/SHL biological (biocriteria) sampling in 1999.   The 1999 sampling data are now greater than five years old; therefore, this assessment is now considered "evaluated" instead of "monitored".  

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "fully supporting" based on biological data collected in 1999 as part of the IDNR/SHL stream biocriteria project.   The 1999 FIBI score was 49 (fair) and the BMIBI score was 45 (fair).   The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as fully supporting (=FS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established for previous Section 305(b) reports.   The biological impairment criteria were determined from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008.   The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 36 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 51.   This site met the FIBI BIC and BMIBI BIC (using the UAV +8).  

This aquatic life assessment is considered "evaluated" because there were not two or more samples collected from this segment in multiple years during a five-year period.   Additionally, because these data are now considered too old (greater than five years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, the assessment category is considered “evaluated” (indicating an assessment with relatively lower confidence) as opposed to "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively higher confidence).   However, despite this change in assessment methodology and type, this waterbody remains in IR Category 2a.