West Fork Cedar River IA 02-WFC-801

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of (1) IDNR ambient monthly monitoring at Finchford.

Basis for Assessment

Used results from the DNR monthly monitoring station at Finchford to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as FST:  i.e., no violations of toxic or conventional contaminants in the 24 samples collected during the October 95 to September 1997 period (=FS).   In addition, continue to use results of the DNR stream use assesment in September 1995 that also suggested full support of the designated aquatic life uses.  Although no biological sampling was conducted in this 30-mile Class B(WW) segment, results of the September 1995 DNR stream use assessment uptream from this segment were used as an indication of the biological condition in the upper portion of this reach.   A review of the field sheet from this stream use assessment shows that the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses are fully supported due to (1) presence of a very diverse fish community (22 species from 6 families) for streams in the Iowa Surface subecoregion (47c), (2) presence of nearly all the expected fish taxa (10 of 11) for streams in this subregion (with only 1 headwater species (blacknose dace) missing), (3) presence of several game fish species (smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and northern pike), (4) presence of several environmentally sensitive species (e.g., smallmouth bass, blackside darter, and northern hogsucker), and (5) indications of above average habitat quality, with no significan threats to the physical characteristics of this stream reach.   In addition, a recent (1997) water quality report ("Summary of Water Quality Monitoring in the Maquoketa River Basin in Iowa" by John Olson, Iowa DNR/EPD) shows that the W.Fk.  Cedar R.  had some of the best water quality (i.e., low levels of suspended solids and phosphorus) of the six river sites evaluted.   ISU fish survs.  in Oct.  1982 at Finchford, N of New Hartford, & S of Allison showed diverse fish comms (spp/fam:  12/6; 16/6; 21/5).