Minerva Creek IA 02-IOW-738

Assessment Comments

Insufficient information available to develop an assessment. Previous assessment was 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 are considered "not assessed" due to the age of the biological data upon which the previous assessments of these uses ("fully supported") were based.  

EXPLANATION:  The 2004 assessment for this stream segment was based on results of biological monitoring conducted as part of an IDNR stream use assessment in 1995.   Because the data upon which this assessment was originally based have aged beyond 10 years--and are thus considered too old to characterize current water quality conditions--the Class B(LR) uses of this segment are now considered "not assessed".   Thus, this stream segment is moved from IR Category 1 to 3a (insufficient information to assess any uses).