Shell Rock River IA 02-SHL-783
from south corporate limit of Shell Rock (S12 T91N R15W Butler Co.) to confluence with Flood Cr. in S27 T93N R16W Butler Co.
- Assessment Cycle
- 2018
- Release Status
- Final
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 5/23/2019 12:21:36 PM
- Updated
- 7/11/2019 11:55:08 AM
Assessment Summary
The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as "partially supported" based on levels of indicator bacteria. The Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses are assessed (evaluated) as "fully supported" based on results of DNR/SHL biological sampling conducted in 2012-2014, 2016. The fish consumption (Class HH) uses remain assessed (monitored) as "partially supported" due to issuance of fish consumption advisory. The sources of data for this assessment are (1) the results of monthly ambient water quality monitoring from January 2014 through December 2016 at the DNR/SHL ambient station located at the County Road C45 bridge at Shell Rock, Butler Co. (STORET station 10120001); (2) results of U.S. EPA/Iowa DNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring near Clarksville in September 2011; (3) DNR/SHL biological sampling conducted in 2012-2014, 2016 and (4) DNR Fisheries Bureau fish sampling data collected in 2007 and 2008.
Assessment Explanation
The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as "partially supported" based on levels of indicator bacteria that exceeded state water quality criteria. The geometric means of indicator bacteria (E. coli) in the 24 samples collected during the recreational seasons of 2014 through 2016 at Iowa DNR Station 10120001 Shell Rock River at Shell Rock were as follows: the 2014 geometric mean was 59 orgs/100 ml, the 2015 geometric mean was 44 orgs/100 ml, and the 2016 geometric mean was 129 orgs/100 ml. One of the three recreation season geometric means exceeded the Class A1 geometric mean criterion of 126 orgs/100 ml. Three of the combined 24 samples (12%) exceeded Iowa’s Class A1 single-sample maximum criterion of 235 orgs/100 ml. According to U.S. EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) reporting and DNR’s assessment/listing methodology, if the geometric mean is greater than 126 orgs/100 ml., the primary contact recreation uses should be assessed as "impaired" (see pgs 3-33 to 3-35 of U.S. EPA 1997b). Thus, because at least one recreation season geometric mean exceeded criteria for Class A1 uses, these uses are assessed as "partially supported." In agreement with the biological sampling results that suggest "full support" of the Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses, results of chemical/physical water quality monitoring Shell Rock also suggest “full support” of the aquatic life uses. Monitoring showedno violations of Class B(WW1) water quality criteria for 35 Ammonia samples (maximum = 0.3 mg/L), 36 Dissolved Oxygen samples (minimum = 7.9 mg/L), 36 Temperature samples (maximum = 24° c), 36 Chloride samples (maximum = 37 mg/L), or 36 Sulfate samples (maximum = 60 mg/L) occurred during monitoring from January 2014 to December 2016.1 of the 35 samples (3) analyzed for pH (range = 7.8 to 9.1) violated the Class B(WW1) criteria during the 2014-2016 monitoring period. According to U.S. EPA guidelines (U.S. EPA 1997b, page 3-17), a violation frequency of greater than 10% for conventional parameters such as pH suggests impairment of aquatic life uses. Because the frequency of violations for this parameter is not greater than 10 percent, these results do not suggest impairment of the Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses.These results suggest that the Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses should be assessed as “fully supported.”
Assessment Key Dates
8/23/2011 | Fish Tissue Monitoring |
8/25/2016 | Biological Monitoring |
8/6/2012 | Biological Monitoring |
1/9/2014 | Fixed Monitoring Start Date |
12/6/2016 | Fixed Monitoring End Date |
8/2/2012 | Fish Tissue Monitoring |
9/3/2013 | Biological Monitoring |
9/8/2014 | Biological Monitoring |
9/26/2007 | Biological Monitoring |
9/16/2008 | Biological Monitoring |
Methods
150 | Monitoring data more than 5 years old |
230 | Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants) |
260 | Fish tissue analysis |
315 | Regional reference site approach |
320 | Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys |
330 | Fish surveys |
420 | Indicator bacteria monitoring |