Des Moines River IA 04-UDM-1217

[Note: This assessment (except the biological sampling) was also used for the adjacent downstream segment of the Des Moines River (IA 04-UDM-1216).]

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 23 samples collected during the recreational seasons of 2012 through 2014 at DNR station 10940003 downstream from Fort Dodge were as follows: the 2012 geometric mean was 32 orgs/100 ml, the 2013 geometric mean was 145 orgs/100 ml, and the 2014 geometric mean was 182 orgs/100 ml. Two of the three recreation season geometric means exceeded the Class A1 geometric mean criterion of 126 orgs/100 ml. Eight of the combined 23 samples (35%) 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."

Results of chemical/physical water quality monitoring at DNR station 10940003 downstream from Fort Dodge suggest “full support” of the aquatic life uses. Monitoring showed no violations of Class B(WW1) water quality criteria for 33 Ammonia samples (maximum = 1.1 mg/L), 33 Dissolved Oxygen samples (minimum = 8.4 mg/L), 33 pH samples (range = 7.4 to 9), 33 Temperature samples (maximum = 28.7° c), 33 Chloride samples (maximum = 140 mg/L), or 33 Sulfate samples (maximum = 190 mg/L) occurred during monitoring from January 2012 to September 2014.According to U.S.EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) water quality assessments (U.S.EPA 1997b, page 3-17), the EPA guidelines allow up to 10% violations of these conventional parameters before impairment of water quality is indicated.Thus, these results thus suggest “full support” of the Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses.

In contrast to the water quality aquatic life assessment, the aquatic life assessment based on biological sampling suggests the aquatic life uses are "partially supporting". This evaluated biological assessment was based on data collected in 2012-2014 as part of the DNR/SHL large river sampling project. A series of biological metrics that reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biological sampling data. The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa collected in the stream sampling reach. The biological metrics were combined a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI). The index rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). The 2012-2014 BMIBI scores were 39 (fair), 56, 72 (both good). The aquatic life use support was assessed (evaluated) as partially supporting (=PS), based on a comparison of the BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established from a statistical analysis of biological data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008. The BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 62. This assessment is considered evaluated because the drainage area (4259 mi2) above this sampling site was greater than the maximum limit (500 mi2) that was used to calibrate the Iowa wadeable stream impairment criteria. Even though this site failed the BMIBI BIC (0/3), it is uncertain as to whether or not this segment is meeting the aquatic life criteria because the site used for the assessment doesn’t fall in the calibrated watershed size. According to DNR’s assessment/listing methodology, impairments based on “evaluated” assessments are of lesser confidence and are thus not appropriate for Section 303(d) listing (Category 5 of the Integrated Report). DNR does, however, consider these impairments as appropriate for listing under either Category 2b or 3b of the Integrated Report (waters potentially impaired and in need of further investigation).

Fish consumption uses remain assessed (evaluated) as “fully supported” based on results of U.S.EPA/DNR fish contaminant (RAFT) monitoring near Dolliver State Park in 2005 and downstream of Fort Dodge in 2009, and REMAP monitoring near Coalville in 2006. The 2005 composite samples of fillets from common carp and freshwater drum had low levels of contaminants. Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of common carp fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.183 ppm; total PCBs: <0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm. Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of freshwater drum fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.139 ppm; total PCBs: <0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm. The September 2006 DNR/SHL REMAP project (Site 221) fish tissue monitoring showed low levels of the primary contaminants in the composite samples of common carp fillets: mercury: 0.239 ppm; total PCBs: <0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm. The 2009 composite samples of fillets from common carp and freshwater drum had low levels of contaminants. Levels of primary contaminants in the composite sample of common carp fillets were as follows: mercury: 0.193 ppm; total PCBs: 0.09 ppm; and technical chlordane: <0.03 ppm. The level of mercury in the composite sample of freshwater drum fillets was 0.149 ppm. The existence of, or potential for, a fish consumption advisory is the basis for Section 305(b) assessments of support of fish consumption uses in Iowa’s rivers and lakes. The fish contaminant data generated from the 2005 and 2009 RAFT and 2006 REMAP sampling conducted in this assessment segment suggest that levels of all contaminants from this monitoring were below advisory trigger levels, thus suggesting the continued “full support” of fish consumption uses.