Stream Fish Kill Follow-up Assessment, Fish Community Sampling Results, February 28, 2002

(2002) Stream Fish Kill Follow-up Assessment, Fish Community Sampling Results, February 28, 2002. Natural Resources, Department of

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Abstract

From 1999 to 2001, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) sampled fish communities in 23 streams that were affected by major fish kills. The primary goal of the project was to assess the status of biological conditions in fish kill streams and evaluate recovery of fish populations. The length of time between fish kills and follow-up sampling ranged from 5 to 60 months. Follow-up sampling results were compared with data from fish kill reports and stream ecoregion reference sites. Data analysis focused on three aspects of the fish community: abundance, community integrity, and species composition. Levels of fish abundance and community integrity varied greatly among the 23 follow-up streams. Fish abundance ranged from very low (17 fish/500ft.) to very high (2,506 fish/500ft.). Ratings of the Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI), a measure of fish community integrity developed for Iowa’s streams, ranged from very poor (2) to excellent (73). Levels of fish abundance and/or fish community integrity were lower than reference expectations in twelve (52%) follow-up stream segments.