Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Buffalo Creek IA 04-EDM-985

from confluence with Union Slough Outlet (S9 T97N R28W Kossuth Co.) to confluence with Little Buffalo Cr. in S4 T97N R27W Kossuth Co.

Assessment Cycle
1998
Result Period
1994 - 1996
Designations
Assessment Type
Monitored
Integrated Report
Category 0
Legacy ADBCode
IA 04-EDM-0090_2
Overall Use Support
Threatened
Aquatic Life Use Support
Threatened
Documentation
Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of 2000 Biocriteria monitoring: Fish IBI= 15,17(poor); BM-IBI= 56,66(good).

Basis for Assessment

Continued to use the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses developed for the 1996 report (=FST).   A major fish kill occurred on this stream and its tributary (North Buffalo Creek) on September 6, 1996, due to high levels of ammonia and BOD from an accidental discharge of animal waste from an animal feeding operation.   An estimated 586,000 fish were killed over a 22-mile reach of stream

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
9/6/1996 Fishkill
10/1/1992 DNR Stream Use Assessment
Methods
330 Fish surveys
375 Visual observation-- may not quantify some parameters-- single season-- by prof.
140 Incidence of spills and/or fish kills
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