Mississippi River IA 01-NEM-71

Assessment Comments

008490 (1117MBR) at Hamm Island at Dubuque, 008711 (1117MBR) downstream from Dubuque. Special study by Wisconsin DNR.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed."  The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supporting / threatened."  Fish consumption uses remain assessed as "fully supported."  EXPLANATION:  The Class A uses were not assessed due to lack of information on levels of indicator bacteria in this reach of river.   The Class B(WW) uses remain assessed as "fully supporting / threatened" based on the 1997 study of dissolved oxygen levels by Sullivan and Endris (1998) of the Wisconsin DNR (see assessment for the 1998 report above).   Fish consumption uses remain assessed as "fully supported" based on results of EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring (1) in 1995 downstream from Dubuque that showed levels of contaminants in composite samples of fillets from common carp and white crappie were less than ½ the respective FDA action levels and DNR levels of concern and (2) in 1998 downstream from Dubuque that showed levels of contaminants in composite samples of whole-fish carp were also less than ½ the respective FDA action levels and DNR levels of concern.