Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on: (1) the results of the IDNR-UHL beach monitoring program in summers of 2010-2012, (2) results of the statewide survey of Iowa lakes conducted from 2009-2012 by Iowa State University (ISU), (3) results of the statewide ambient lake monitoring program conducted in 2008 by University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), and (4) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau.
Basis for Assessment
SUMMARY: The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as “partially supported” due to violations of the state water quality standard for indicator bacteria. The Class B(LW) (aquatic life) uses are assessed (monitored) as “fully supported.” The Class C (drinking water) uses are “not assessed.” The fish consumption uses are “not assessed” due to a lack of fish contaminant monitoring at this lake. Sources of data for this assessment include (1) the results of the IDNR-UHL beach monitoring program in summers of 2010-2012, (2) results of the statewide survey of Iowa lakes conducted from 2009-2012 by Iowa State University (ISU), (3) results of the statewide ambient lake monitoring program conducted in 2008 by University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), and (4) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau.
NOTE: A dam failure occurred at this lake in mid-May 2002. The dam was repaired in early summer 2003, and the lake had returned to normal water levels, and was opened for all uses, in mid-July 2003.
EXPLANATION: Results of IDNR beach monitoring from 2010-2012 suggest that the Class A1 uses are “partially supported." Levels of indicator bacteria at Lacey Keosauqua Lake beach were monitored once per week during the primary contact recreation seasons (May through September) of 2010 (16 samples), 2011 (17 samples), and 2012 (15 samples) as part of the IDNR beach monitoring program. According to IDNR’s assessment methodology two conditions need to be met for results of beach monitoring to indicate “full support” of the Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses: (1) the geometric mean of the samples from each recreation season of the three-year assessment period are less than the state’s geometric mean criterion of 126 E. coli orgs/100 ml and (2) not more than 10% of the samples during any one recreation season exceeds the state’s single-sample maximum value of 235 E. coli orgs/100 ml. If a sampling season geometric mean exceeds the state criterion of 126 orgs/100 ml during the three-year assessment period, the Class A1 uses should be assessed as “not supported.” Also, if significantly more than 10% of the samples in any one of the three recreation seasons exceed Iowa’s single-sample maximum value of 235 E. coli orgs/100 ml, the Class A1 uses should be assessed as “partially supported.” This assessment approach is based on U.S. EPA guidelines (see pgs 3-33 to 3-35 of U.S. EPA 1997b).
NOTE: Based on consultation with EPA Region 7 staff in 2011, IDNR’s methodology for assessing impairments based on the geometric mean water quality criterion was changed. Prior to the 2012 listing cycle, IDNR calculated geometric means for lakes based on a 30-day periods within the recreational season. Any violation of one of these 30-day periods within 3 years resulted in an impairment of the Class A1 uses of that lake. Because water quality standards do not identify a 30 day period but instead a recreational season, Region 7 concurred that the approach used for rivers and streams with less frequent bacteria data (seasonal geometric means) would be appropriate for identifying §303(d) impairments at lake beaches. Thus, for the 2014 listing cycle, IDNR identified primary contact recreation impairments for lakes when the geometric mean of all samples from the recreation season of a given year exceeded the geometric mean criterion. This does not impact the way IDNR assesses beaches for closure to protect the recreating public in the short term.
At Lacey Keosauqua Lake beach, the geometric means from 2010-2012 were all below the Iowa water quality standard of 126 E. coli orgs/100 ml. The geometric mean was 66 E. coli orgs/100 ml in 2010, 45 E. coli orgs/100 ml in 2011, and 8 E. coli orgs/100 ml in 2012. The percentage of samples exceeding Iowa’s single-sample maximum criterion (235 E. coli orgs/100 ml) was 25% in 2010, 18% in 2011 and 0% in 2012. Based on IDNR's assessment methodology, the number of samples exceeding Iowa's single-sample maximum criterion were significantly greater than 10% of the samples in 2010 and therefore suggest impairment of the Class A1 uses. According to IDNR’s assessment methodology and U.S. EPA guidelines, these results suggest “partial support” of the Class A1 uses.
Results from the ISU and UHL lake surveys however suggest that the Class A1 uses at Lacey Keosauqua Lake are “fully supported.” Using the median values from these surveys from 2008-2012 (approximately 14 samples), Carlson’s (1977) trophic state indices for Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus were 59, 46, and 53 respectively for Lacey Keosauqua Lake. According to Carlson (1977) the Secchi depth and total phosphorus values all place Lacey Keosauqua Lake in the eutrophic category and the chlorophyll a value places Lacey Keosauqua Lake in the mesotrophic category. These values suggest extremely low levels of chlorophyll a and suspended algae in the water, relatively good water transparency, and low levels of phosphorus in the water column.
The level of inorganic suspended solids is moderately high but does not suggest impairment due to high non-algal turbidity. The median inorganic suspended solids concentration at Lacey Keosauqua Lake was 3.9 mg/L, and ranked 6th of the 134 monitored lakes.
Data from the 2006-2010 ISU and UHL surveys suggest a small population of cyanobacteria exists at Lacey Keosauqua Lake, which does not cause an impairment at this lake. These data show that cyanobacteria comprised 76% of the phytoplankton wet mass at this lake. The median cyanobacteria wet mass (7.9 mg/L) and ranked 16th of the 134 lakes sampled.
The Class B(LW) (aquatic life) uses are assessed as “fully supported” based on information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and results from the ISU and UHL lake surveys. The ISU and UHL lake survey results show good chemical water quality at Lacey Keosauqua Lake. During 2008-2012 there were no violations of the Class B(LW) criterion for ammonia (14 samples), dissolved oxygen (14 samples), or pH (14 samples). These results suggest "full support" of the Class B(LW) uses.
The Class C (drinking water) uses remained "not assessed" due to a lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment. The only parameter collected as part of the ISU and UHL lake surveys relevant to support of Class C (drinking water) uses is nitrate. While the results of the ISU and UHL surveys from 2008-2012 show that nitrate levels are low at this lake (maximum value = 0.25 mg/l; median = 0.2 mg/l) relative to the MCL (10 mg/L), these data are not sufficient for developing a valid assessment of support of the Class C uses.
Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this lake.
