Assessment Comments
Assessment is based on: (1) results of the statewide survey of Iowa lakes conducted from 2009-2012 by Iowa State University (ISU), (2) results of the statewide ambient lake monitoring program conducted in 2008 by University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), (3) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and (4) results of a fish kill investigation on August 16, 2007.
Basis for Assessment
SUMMARY: The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as “not supported” due to aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by nuisance algae blooms and non-algal turbidity. Large populations of cyanobacteria potentially suggest an additional impairment of the Class A1 uses due to presence of nuisance (noxious) aquatic plant life. The Class B(LW) (aquatic life) uses are assessed (monitored) as “partially supported.” Nuisance blooms of algae, nutrients, and re-suspension of sediment also remain concerns at this lake. A fish kill in August of 2007 also suggests partial support of the Class B(LW) uses. Fish consumption uses remain “not assessed” due to a lack of fish contaminant monitoring at this lake. Sources of data for this assessment include (1) results of the statewide survey of Iowa lakes conducted from 2009-2012 by Iowa State University (ISU), (2) results of the statewide ambient lake monitoring program conducted in 2008 by University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), (3) information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, and (4) results of a fish kill investigation on August 16, 2007.
Note: A TMDL for algae and turbidity at Ingham Lake was prepared by IDNR and approved by EPA in 2005. Because all Section 303(d) impairments identified for the 2012 assessment/listing cycle (algae, pH, turbidity) are addressed by the TMDL, this waterbody is placed in IR Category 4a (impaired; TMDL approved).
EXPLANATION: For the 2014 reporting cycle, the Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses for Ingham Lake are assessed (monitored) as “not supported” due to aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by poor water transparency due to algal and non-algal turbidity. Using the median values from the ISU and UHL lake surveys from 2008-2012 (approximately 14 samples), Carlson’s (1977) trophic state indices for Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus were 77, 77, and 77 respectively for Ingham Lake. According to Carlson (1977) the Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus values all place Ingham Lake in the hypereutrophic category. These values suggest extremely high levels of chlorophyll a and suspended algae in the water, extremely poor water transparency, and extremely high levels of phosphorus in the water column.
The levels of inorganic suspended solids at this lake were moderately high and suggest that non-algal turbidity contributes to the impairment at this lake. The median level of inorganic suspended solids in Ingham Lake (8.3 mg/L) and ranked 101st of the 134 lakes sampled by the ISU and UHL programs.
Data from the 2008-2012 ISU and UHL surveys suggest a very large population of cyanobacteria exists at Ingham Lake, which contributes to impairment at this lake. These data show that cyanobacteria comprised 91% of the phytoplankton wet mass at this lake. The median cyanobacteria wet mass (170.3 mg/L) and ranked 132nd of the 134 lakes sampled. This median is in the worst 25% of the 134 lakes sampled. The presence of a large population of cyanobacteria at this lake suggests a potential violation of Iowa’s narrative water quality standard protecting against the occurrence of nuisance aquatic life. This assessment is based strictly on the distribution of the lake-specific median cyanobacteria values from 2008-2012. Median levels greater than the 75th percentile of this distribution were arbitrarily considered to represent potential impairment. No other criteria exist, however, upon which to base a more accurate identification of impairments due to cyanobacteria. The assessment category for assessments based on level of cyanobacteria will be considered "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively lower confidence) as opposed to "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively higher confidence) to account for this lower level of confidence.
The Class B(LW) (aquatic life) uses are assessed as “partially supported” based on information from IDNR’s Fisheries Bureau and results from the ISU and UHL lake surveys. Nuisance blooms of algae, nutrients, and re-suspension of sediment remain concerns at this lake. Information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau suggests that water quality is very poor and winterkills are common. The ISU and UHL lake surveys data from 2008-2012 show no violations of the Class B(LW) criteria for ammonia in 14 samples, and one violation of the Class B(LW) criterion for dissolved oxygen in 14 samples (7%). The violation of the dissolved oxygen criterion is not significantly greater than 10% of the samples and therefore does not suggest impairment of the Class B(LW) uses. The pH data also shows no violations of the Class A1,B(LW) criterion for pH in 14 samples. Ingham Lake was assessed as "partially supporting" the Class B(LW) uses due to significantly greater than 10% of the samples violating the pH criterion for the 2010 assessment/listing cycle. Based on IDNR's assessment methodology 2 consecutive assessment/listing cycles without significantly greater than 10% of the samples violating the criterion are necessary to suggest de-listing of the pH impairment. Because violations of the pH criteria were not significantly greater than 10% for the 2012 assessment/lising cycle or the current (2014) assessment/listing cycle, the pH impairment for Ingham Lake is suggested for delisting. These violations likely reflect primary productivity at Ingham Lake and do not reflect the input of pollutants into this lake.
A fish kill that occurred in this lake on or before August 16, 2007 also suggests "impairment" of the Class B(LW) uses. The kill was identified as a natural kill resulting from high temperatures and low dissolved oxygen. The kill mainly affected carp and occurred in the goose pen area off Ingham Lake. The total number of fish killed was 10. This is the same assessment as that developed for the 2008 and 2010 assessment/listing cycle. Based on IDNR's 2014 assessment methodology the occurrence of a single pollutant-caused fish kill, or a fish kill of unknown origin, on a waterbody or waterbody reach during the most recent assessment period (2010-2012) indicates a severe stress to the aquatic community and suggests that the aquatic life uses should be assessed as “impaired”. If a cause of the kill was not identified during the IDNR investigation, or if the kill was attributed to non-pollutant causes (e.g., winterkill), the assessment type will be considered “evaluated” and will be placed in IR subcategories 2b or 3b and will be added to the state list of waters in need of further investigation.
Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this lake.
