2024 assessment for Deer Creek

Deer Creek IA 04-UDM-1290

mouth (S13 T90N R29W Webster Co.) to confluence with unnamed tributary in S16 T90N R29W Webster Co.

2024
Open Data Collection Period Modal

For purposes of developing stream/river water quality assessments for integrated reporting, three years of water quality data are typically used for both conventional pollutant parameters (e.g., indicator bacteria) and the less frequently monitored toxic parameters (e.g., toxic metals). Since the 2004 IR cycle, DNR has used a three-year data gathering period for streams, rivers, and beaches. For most assessments, the use of three years of data increases the number of samples upon which the decision on use support is based and helps address the problem of weather-related year-to-year fluctuations in water quality.

Due to the lower sampling frequency in Iowa’s ambient lake, biological, fish kill, and fish tissue monitoring programs, five years of data are used for developing IR assessments and for identifying Section 303(d) listings.

Data Type	Data Timeframe
Beach Sampling Data	CY 2020 - 2022
Stream/River Water Quality Data	CY 2020 - 2022
Lake Water Quality Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Biological Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022*
Fish Kill Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Fish Tissue Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022
Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Sampling Data	CY 2018 - 2022
*Biological sites sampled in both 2017 and 2021 were also assessed.

Open Segment Map
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Overall IR

3 - Insufficient data exist to determine whether any designated uses are met.

Trend

Unknown

Created

11/1/2023 8:14:05 AM by

Updated

1/9/2024 8:08:49 AM by

Use Support

Class A1

Presumptive Use

Recreation - Primary contact

Not Assessed

Class BWW2

Aquatic Life - Warm Water Type 2

WINOFI

Biological

Support Level

Further Investigation Needed

Impairment Code

3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.

Cause Magnitude

Moderate

303(d) Listing Status

Continuing

Source

Unknown: Source Unknown

Source Confidence

N/A

Cycle Added

1998

Impairment Rationale

Potential Impairment

Data Source

Special project/study: Iowa DNR

303(d) Delistings for this Cycle

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The Class BWW2 use was assessed as "WINOFI" based on historical biological sampling data and habitat assessment. All other designated uses were "not assessed."

Assessment Explanation

Presumptive Class A1 - No Data

Class BWW2 - Biological Sampling:

The aquatic life use was assessed (evaluated) as "WINOFI" due to (1) very low fish community diversity (5 species from 3 families) for streams in the Des Moines Lobe sub-ecoregion (47b) and (2) presence of less than a majority of the expected fish taxa (5 of 11) for streams in the 47b sub-ecoregion. As with the DNR stream use assessments for other streams in this portion of the upper Des Moines basin, rocky substrates and numerous snags hindered effective sampling (seining) of the fish community. Follow-up monitoring was recommended to better define the status of the aquatic communities and habitats and to determine the degree to which the aquatic life use may be impaired. The field sheet indicates above average habitat quality, with no significant threats to the physical characteristics of this stream. Follow-up monitoring is still needed in this stream reach to determine the status of aquatic communities and habitats and to determine the degree to which the aquatic life use may be impaired.

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

11/1/1994

Biological Monitoring

Methods

150

Monitoring data more than 5 years old

330

Fish surveys