Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

West Branch Iowa River IA 02-IOW-775

mouth (S19 T93N R23W Wright Co.) to confluence with unnamed tributary (outlet of E. Twin L.) in NE 1/4 S29 T9N R24W Hancock Co.

Assessment Cycle
1996
Result Period
1992 - 1994
Designations
Assessment Type
Monitored
Integrated Report
Category 0
Legacy ADBCode
IA 02-IOW-0400_1
Overall Use Support
Partial
Aquatic Life Use Support
Partial
Documentation
Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in 1992.

Basis for Assessment

Used results of the October 1992 DNR stream use assessment to assess support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses as PS due to (1) habitat score (18) worse than the overall median score (22) for DNR stream use assessments, (2) fish score (7) worse than the 75th percentile score (10) for stream use assessments made with seines, and (3) indications on field sheet of poor diversity of substrates, no pool/riffle formation, and extensive channel alterations (channelization).  Maps show nearly the entire reach of the West Branch is extensively channelized.   Relatively large concentration of confined hog feeding operations in the watershed of the West Branch is a water quality concern.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
10/1/1992 DNR Stream Use Assessment
Methods
330 Fish surveys
375 Visual observation-- may not quantify some parameters-- single season-- by prof.
Monitoring Levels
Biological 3
Habitat 3
Physical Chemistry 0
Toxic 0
Pathogen Indicators 0
Other Health Indicators 0
Other Aquatic Life Indicators 0
# of Bio Sites 0
BioIntegrity N/A