Assessment Comments
Assessment is basedon results of water quality monitoring conducted by Minnesota PCA at Gordonville, MN, apprx 1 mi N of state line.
Basis for Assessment
[NOTE: For the 2002 report, the previous waterbody segment IA 02-SHL-0020-0, which extended 46 miles from the Winnebago River to the Iowa/Minnesota state line, was split into two subsegments: (1) Winnebago River to Rose Creek (aka Plymouth Cr. or Beaver Cr.) (IA 02-SHL-0020-1) and (2) Rose Creek to the Iowa/Minnesota state line (IA 02-SHL-0020-2). The assessments developed for previous Section 305(b) reports of the previous 46-mile assessment segment named IA 02-SHL-0020-0 can be found listed under the assessment information for segment IA 02-SHL-0020-1.]
SUMMARY: The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed." The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "fully supported / threatened." The assessment category, however, is changed from "monitored" to "evaluated." Fish consumption uses are "not assessed." EXPLANATION: Continue to use the assessment developed for the 2000 report (see above) that was based on results of the monitoring by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 1996-1997 and anecdotal information on nuisance blooms of algae in the river. 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). Fish consumption uses remain "fully supported" based on results of U.S. EPA / IDNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring near Northwood in 1999.
