Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on results of fish surveys conducted by Iowa State University (see Kaminski et al. 1995).
Basis for Assessment
[Note: For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment for Minerva Creek (IA 02-IOW-0250-0), which extended 20 miles from its mouth to an unnamed tributary in Hardin County, was split into three subsegments: (1) mouth (NW 1/4, S2, T84N, R19W, Marshall Co.) to confluence with Middle Minerva Cr. in S 35, T85N, R20W, Marshall Co. (IA 02-IOW-0250-1), (2) from Middle Minerva Cr. to confluence with unnamed tributary (from west) in SW 1/4, NW 1/4, S9, T85N, R20W, Marshall Co. (IA 02-IOW-0250-2), and (3) from unnamed tributary (from west) to confluence with unnamed tributary in S33, T86N, R21W, Hardin Co. (IA 02-IOW-0250-3). See assessment information for segment IA 02-IOW-0250-1 for previous Section 305(b) assessments for the previous 20-mile stream segment.]
SUMMARY: The Class B(LR) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported / threatened" based on results of fish surveys conducted by Iowa State University. The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" (high-confidence assessment) to "evaluated" (low-confidence assessment).
EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 report that was based primarily on results of the 1995 fish surveys conducted by Iowa State University. These data are taken from the report "A survey of fishes in unprotected tributaries of the Iowa River" by Kaminski et al. (1995). The assessment of "fully supported / threatened" is based on (1) presence of relatively diverse fish communities (ISU data, species/families, dstr->upstr: 19/6; 15/4; 15/5), (2) presence of all, or nearly all, of the expected fish taxa at the three ISU sites (8 of 8; 6 of 8; 7 of 8), and (3) indications of reltively good aquatic habitats. 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).
