Fox River IA 04-FOX-994

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessments.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheets from the three DNR stream use assessments from November 1990 to upgrade the assessment of support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life uses from PS to FST due to (1) occurrence of the expected diversity of the fish community (species/families, dstr to upstr:  8/3, 8/3, 9/3) for streams in the Central Irregular Plains (40) ecoregion and (2) presence of a majority of the expected fish taxa at two of the three assessment sites (4 of 8, 6 of 8, and 6 of 8) for streams in this ecoregion.   Nearly the entire Class B(LR) reach of the Fox River has been extensively channelized; yet, the stream continues to support a typical Class B(LR) fish community for this ecoregion.   The three DNR stream use assessments were conducted very late in the year in 1990 (late November); in addition, these assessments were conducted more than 5 years ago.   Thus, additional monitoring is needed to update these assessments and to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats.