Iowa DNR
ADBNet

Water Quality Assessments

Impaired Waters List

North Branch Lizard Creek IA 04-UDM-1288

mouth (S2 T91N R31W Pocahontas Co.) to confluence with Drainage Ditch No. 169 in S6 T91N R31W Pocahontas Co.

Assessment Cycle
2018
Release Status
Final
Data Collection Period
Overall IR Category
3 - Insufficient data exist to determine whether any designated uses are met.
Trend
Unknown
Created
8/1/2019 7:32:30 AM
Updated
8/1/2019 7:33:00 AM
Assessment conducted in accordance with Iowa's 2018 IR methodology
Use Support
Class A1
Not Assessed
Class BWW2
WINOFI
Biological
Support Level
Water in Need of Further Investigation (WINOFI)
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Slight
Status
Continuing
Source
Unknown: Source Unknown
Source Confidence
N/A
Cycle Added
1996
Impairment Rationale
Potential Impairment
Data Source
Special project/study: Iowa DNR
General Use
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
No delistings for this assessment cycle.
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.  The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supported" based on results of biological monitoring and habitat assessment conducted as part of the DNR stream use assessment in September 1994.  Although the data upon which this assessment were originally based have aged well beyond 10 years--and are thus considered too old to characterize current water quality conditions--the indication of a potential impairment suggests that this stream segment should remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" and thus remain in Category 3b of Iowa’s Integrated Reports (i.e., on Iowa's list of waters in need of further investigation).  The assessment developed for the 2004 assessment/listing cycle is included below. 

Assessment Explanation

Continue to use the assessment developed for the 1998 and 2000 reporting cycles that was based on results of the 1994 DNR stream use assessment. As stated in the assessment developed for the 1998 reporting cycle, the aquatic life uses were assessed as "partially supported” due to (1) presence of a relatively depauperate fish community (7 species from 2 families) for streams in the Des Moines Lobe subecoregion, (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (4 of 11) for streams in this subregion, and (3) indications on the field sheet of extensive channel alterations due to channelization and generally poor quality aquatic habitats. Follow-up monitoring was recommended to determine the status of the aquatic communities and habitats of this stream and to determine the degree to which the aquatic life uses may be impaired. Follow-up monitoring is needed in this stream reach to determine the status of aquatic communities and habitats and to determine the degree to which the Class B(LR) uses may be impaired.

Although the data upon which this assessment were originally based have aged well beyond 10 years--and are thus considered too old to characterize current water quality conditions--the indication of a potential impairment suggests that this stream segment should remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" and thus remain in Category 3b of Iowa’s Integrated Reports (i.e., on Iowa's list of waters in need of further investigation). The assessment developed for the 2004 assessment/listing cycle is included below.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
9/1/1994 DNR Stream Use Assessment
Methods
150 Monitoring data more than 5 years old
330 Fish surveys
375 Qualitative physical habitat assessment