Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River IA 01-TRK-138

Alternate name(s) for this segment: Bankston Creek

from west line of S31 T90N R1E (Dubuque Co.) to north line of S33 T90N R1W Dubuque Co.

Cycle
2020
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
Trend
Unknown
Created
8/14/2020 1:23:19 PM
Updated
10/15/2020 6:51:34 AM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Not Assessed
Class A2
Recreation - Secondary contact
Not Assessed
Class BCW1
Aquatic Life - Cold Water Type 1
Partially Supported
Support Level
Partially Supported
Impairment Code
5b-v - Biological - verified
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Unknown: Source Unknown
Source Confidence
Low
Cycle Added
2006
Impairment Rationale
Low Biotic Index
Data Source
Biological monitoring: Iowa DNR WQMA
TMDL Priority
Tier IV
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Unknown: Source Unknown
Source Confidence
Low
Cycle Added
2016
Impairment Rationale
Significantly > 10% of days fail to meet 16-hour criteria
Data Source
Special project/study: Iowa DNR
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Unknown: Source Unknown
Source Confidence
Low
Cycle Added
2016
Impairment Rationale
Significantly > 10% of samples fail to meet criterion
Data Source
Special project/study: Iowa DNR
Class HH
Human Health -
Not Assessed
General Use
General Use water -
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
No delistings for this assessment cycle.
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The Class BCW1 use was assessed as "partially supported" based on based on biological sampling data and continuous dissolved oxygen and temperature monitoring data. All other designated uses were "not assessed".

Assessment Explanation

Sources of Data:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

BIO

See Below

419

Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River

Rickardsville – REMAP #261


Class A1 - No Data


Class A2 - No Data


Class BCW1 - Biological Sampling:

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

BioNet Site ID

Date

Drainage Area (mi2)

Ecoregion

Major Drainage/Thermal

BM Sample Gear

CBI score

CBI Class

CBI BIT

CBI Pass/ Fail

419

8/31/16

13

52b

MS/CW

Hess

45

NA

60

Fail

419

7/18/16

13

52b

MS/CW

Hess

49

NA

60

Fail

419

9/4/12

13

52b

MS/CW

Hess

35

NA

60

Fail

419

7/23/12

13

52b

MS/CW

Hess

42

NA

60

Fail

Overall Assessment:

Community

Assessment Type

Assessment Result

Support Level

Earned IR Category

Actual IR Category

Reason

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Evaluated

Fail (0/4)

Partial

3bc

5bv

Assessment is evaluated because it included samples not collected in the last five years.


Class BCW1 - Trout Reproduction:

Based on the January 2020 trout reproduction in Iowa streams summary prepared by the DNR Fisheries Bureau, the Class BCW1 coldwater aquatic life use of Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River (a.k.a. Bankston Cr.) was assessed as "fully supported". According to the updated summary, this stream was placed in Category I: streams that exhibit consistent natural reproduction and maintain a wild population of one or more trout species without any stocking.


Class BCW1 - Continuous Monitoring:

Results of continuous dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature monitoring in 2012 for the DNR/SHL coldwater stream sampling project suggest impairment of Class BCW1 aquatic life use. The lowest DO concentration recorded in 55 days of continuous monitoring was 5.7 mg/L. The daily DO minimum concentration failed to meet the 24-hour DO criterion (5 mg/L) in 0 of 55 days. The percentage exceeding (0%) was less than (passing) the 10% impairment threshold used to assess conventional water quality parameters. The associated statistical analysis confidence level was high (>90%). In contrast, the 16-hour DO criterion (7 mg/L) was exceeded in 10 of 55 days. The percentage exceeding (18%) was greater than (failing) the 10% threshold with high statistical confidence (>90%). The maximum stream temperature recorded during the sensor deployment period was 22.8 degrees (C). The BCW1 temperature criterion of 20 (C) was exceeded in 22 of 55 days. The percentage exceeding (40%) was greater than (failing) the 10% impairment threshold with high statistical confidence (>90%). Based on these data, the BCW1 aquatic life use is assessed as impaired due to DO and temperature. The assessment type is “evaluated” because it is based on data collected from a single year within the current data assessment period. In order to meet the requirements for a “monitored” assessment, the DNR’s continuous monitoring assessment methodology requires monitoring data from two or more years within the assessment period.


Class HH - No Data

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
7/23/2012
Biological Monitoring
7/10/2012
Non-fixed Monitoring Start Date
9/15/2012
Non-fixed Monitoring End Date
7/18/2016
Biological Monitoring
8/31/2016
Biological Monitoring
9/4/2012
Biological Monitoring
1/1/2020
Biological Monitoring
Methods
120
Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
222
Non-fixed-station monitoring (conventional during key seasons and flows)
315
Regional reference site approach
320
Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
330
Fish surveys