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), (4) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and (5) results of U.S. EPA/IDNR fish tissue monitoring in 2007.
Basis for Assessment
SUMMARY: The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as “partially supported” due to aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algal turbidity and violations of the state's criteria 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 assessed (monitored) as “fully supported." 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), (4) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and (5) results of U.S. EPA/IDNR fish tissue monitoring in 2007.
EXPLANATION: Results of IDNR beach monitoring from 2010-2012 suggest that the Class A1 uses are “partially supported." Levels of indicator bacteria at Lake Ahquabi beach were monitored once per week during the primary contact recreation seasons (May through September) of 2010 (15 samples), 2011 (15 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 Lake Ahquabi 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, 39 E. coli orgs/100 ml in 2011, and 20 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 31% in 2010, 13% in 2011 and 6% in 2012. The number of samples exceeding the single-sample maximum was significantly greater than 10% in 2010 and therefore suggests 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 suggest that the Class A1 uses at Lake Ahquabi are “partially supported” due to the occurrence of aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by nuisance algae blooms. Using the median values from these surveys from 2008-2012 (approximately 15 samples), Carlson’s (1977) trophic state indices for Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus were 62, 64, and 65 respectively for Lake Ahquabi. According to Carlson (1977) the Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus values all place Lake Ahquabi in between the eutrophic and hypereutrophic categories. These values suggest moderately high levels of chlorophyll a and suspended algae in the water, moderately poor water transparency, and moderately high levels of phosphorus in the water column. Although the index value for chlorophyll a is below the impairment trigger of 65, Lake Ahquabi was listed as partially supporing its Class A1 uses due to aesthetically objectionable conditions. Based on IDNR's methodology, the median TSI value for chlorophyll a must be 63 or less for two consecutive assessment/listing cycles befoe a lake can be removed from the state's Section 303(d) list (IR Category 5). Therefore, Lake Ahquabi were remain listed as "partially supported" for the 2014 assessment/listing cycle.
The level of inorganic suspended solids isrelatively low at this lake and does not suggest impairment due to high non-algal turbidity. The median inorganic suspended solids concentration at Lake Ahquabi was 2.5 mg/L, and ranked 31st of the 134 monitored lakes.
Data from the 2008-2012 ISU and UHL surveys suggest a moderately large population of cyanobacteria exists at Lake Ahquabi. These data show that cyanobacteria comprised 99% of the phytoplankton wet mass at this lake. The median cyanobacteria wet mass (22.0 mg/L) and ranked 79th 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 Lake Ahquabi. During 2008-2012 there were no violations of the Class B(LW) criterion for ammonia (15 samples), or dissolved oxygen (15 samples). There was one violations of the Class A1,B(LW) criterion for pH in 15 samples (7%). Based on IDNR’s assessment methodology these violations were not significantly greater than 10% of the samples and therefore do not suggest an impairment of the Class B(LW) uses of Lake Ahquabi.
The Class C (drinking water) uses remain "not assessed" due to lack of water quality information on 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. Results of these surveys from 2008-2012 show that nitrate levels are usually very low at this lake (max = 0.5 mg/l; median = 0.2 mg/l) although levels can, at times, reach higher levels (maximum value for 2006-2010 = 10.0 mg/l). These data are, however, not sufficient for developing a valid assessment of support of the Class C uses.
Fish consumption uses were assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on results of U.S. EPA/IDNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring at Lake Ahquabi in 2007. The composite samples of fillets from channel catfish and largemouth bass had low levels of contaminants. Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of channel catfish fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.0379 ppm; total PCBs: 0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm. Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of largemouth bass fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.181 ppm. The existence of, or potential for, a fish consumption advisory is the basis for Section 305(b) assessments of the degree to which Iowa’s lakes and rivers support their fish consumption uses. The fish contaminant data generated from the 2007 RAFT sampling conducted at this lake show that the levels of contaminants do not exceed any of the advisory trigger levels, thus indicating no justification for issuance of a consumption advisory for this waterbody.
