Rice Lake IA 02-WIN-832

Assessment Comments

Assessment remains based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" based on information from the IDNR Wildlife Bureau.   Other designated beneficial uses (Class A (primary contact recreation) and Fish consumption uses) remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.   This is the same assessment as that used for previous assessment/listing cycles.  

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" based on review and approval of the previous (2000) assessment by the DNR Wildlife Bureau in 2002.   According to the local DNR Wildlife Biologist, this wetland remains impaired by blooms of algae that, through increased turbidity, limit growth of submergent aquatic vegetation and persistent emergent vegetation preferred by fish and wildlife populations.   The assessment category for this wetland of "evaluated" indicates that the assessment is based entirely on "best professional judgment."  In terms of Section 305(b) reporting, "monitored assessments" are based primarily on recent, site-specific ambient monitoring data and thus have relatively high confidence.   IDNR considers waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "monitored assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.   "Evaluated assessments" are those based on data older than five years or other than site-specific ambient monitoring data (e.g., questionnaire surveys of fish and game biologists [=best professional judgment]) and thus have relatively low confidence.   IDNR does not consider waterbodies identified as "impaired" based on "evaluated assessments" as candidates for the state's Section 303(d) list.  

The primary contact recreation uses remain "not assessed" due to a lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment.   In general, Iowa wetlands are not managed to support primary contact recreation.  

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed."  In general, Iowa wetlands are not managed for recreational fisheries; thus, fish contaminant monitoring is not typically conducted at these waterbodies.