2022 assessment for Binder Lake

Binder Lake IA 05-NOD-1395

Adams County S25T72NR34W 1 mile NE of Corning.

2022
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 2018 - 2020
Stream/River Water Quality Data	CY 2018 - 2020
Lake Water Quality Data	CY 2016 - 2020
Biological Sampling Data	CY 2016 - 2020*
Fish Kill Data	CY 2016 - 2020
Fish Tissue Sampling Data	CY 2016 - 2020
Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Sampling Data	CY 2016 - 2020
*Biological sites sampled in both 2015 and 2019 were also assessed.

Open Segment Map
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Overall IR

2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.

Trophic

Unknown

Trend

Improving

Trend Comment

This assessment and "improving" status are based on information from the DNR Fisheries bureau in April of 2012.

Created

12/30/2021 2:12:39 PM by

Updated

2/3/2022 7:33:48 AM by

Use Support

Class A1

Recreation - Primary contact

Fully Supported

Class BLW

Aquatic Life - Lakes and wetlands

Fully Supported

Class C

Drinking Water -

Not Assessed

Class HH

Human Health -

Not Assessed

303(d) Delistings for this Cycle

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The Class A1 use was assessed (monitored) as “fully supported.” The Class BLW use remains assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on information provided by the DNR Fisheries Bureau in 2012 regarding improvements in the lake’s water quality and fishery and recent water quality data. All other designated uses were “not assessed.” Note: A TMDL for siltation at Binder Lake was prepared by DNR and approved by EPA in 2001.

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source	Data Source ID	Data Type	Data Age	Site ID	Site Name	Site Description
Iowa DNR	6	WQ	CY 2018-2020	22020002	Binder Lake

Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria: No Data

Class A1 - pH:

Site ID	Data Source ID	# Samples / # Years	Minimum Value	Maximum Value	Mean Value	# Violations	Violations needed for impairment	Violates Significantly >10% Rule?	Assessment Type	Support Level
22020002	6	9 / 3	8.2	9	8.5	0	3	NO	Evaluated	Full

Class A1 - Lake TSI's:

Site ID	Data Source ID	Parameter Name	# Samples / # Years	Minimum Value	Maximum Value	Median Value	Median TSI Violation?	Assessment Type	Support Level
22020002	6	Chlorophyll a TSI	9 / 3	26	75	60	NO	Monitored	Full
22020002	6	Secchi TSI	9 / 3	47	73	63	NO	Monitored	Full
22020002	6	Total Phosphorus TSI	9 / 3	61	80	70	NA	NA	NA
22020002	6	Inorganic suspended solids	9 / 3	0.6	14	4.1	NA	NA	NA

Class BLW - Conventional Parameters:

Site ID	Data Source ID	Parameter Name	# Samples / # Years	Minimum Value	Maximum Value	Mean Value	# Violations	# Acute / Chronic Violations	Violations needed for impairment	Violates Significantly >10% Rule?	Assessment Type	Support Level
22020002	6	Ammonia	9 / 3	0.0012	0.4329	0.08	NA	0 / 0	3	NO	Evaluated	Full
22020002	6	Dissolved Oxygen	9 / 3	4.8	8.8	7.2	1	NA / NA	3	NO	Evaluated	Full
22020002	6	pH	9 / 3	8.2	9	8.5	0	NA / NA	3	NO	Evaluated	Full
22020002	6	Temperature	9 / 3	18.1	28.4	25.3	0	NA / NA	3	NO	Evaluated	Full

Class C - Conventional Parameters:

Site ID	Data Source ID	Parameter Name	# Samples / # Years	Minimum Value	Maximum Value	Mean Value	Median Value	# Violations	Violates Significantly >10% Rule?	Assessment Type	Support Level
22020002	6	Inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite)	9 / 3	0.02	0.03	0.02	0.02	0	NO	Evaluated	Full
22020002	6	pH	9 / 3	8.2	9	8.5	8.4	0	NO	Evaluated	Full

Class HH: No Data

Additional information:

Binder Lake’s fishery was renovated in late 2004: the entire fish population was removed with a fish toxicant (rotenone). According to the DNR Fisheries Bureau, the years since the renovation have brought vastly improved water clarity, and the rooted plant community has expanded dramatically. Prior to the renovation, the lake had small areas of lotus and curly-leaf pondweed present. Since the renovation, both plant species have expanded at least 10-fold in coverage area. The curly leaf coverage could be as much as 30% of the lake’s surface during its peak. Very little free-floating algae is present. Fish growth is normal or faster than most other southern Iowa lakes. Water clarity no longer suppresses the sport-fish population of Binder Lake. The DNR Fisheries Bureau anticipates that, as long as common carp can be prevented from re-entering the lake, the sport fish populations and water quality conditions will remain good.

Based on this information in 2012 and the improvements in water quality conditions and sport fish populations, the Class BLW use of Binder Lake was assessed as “fully supported.”

See previous assessment for more information https://programs.iowadnr.gov/adbnet/Segments/1395/Assessment/2018

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

4/18/2012

Biological Monitoring

8/28/2001

TMDL Completed

5/21/2018

Non-fixed Monitoring Start Date

8/24/2020

Non-fixed Monitoring End Date

Methods

222

Non-fixed-station monitoring (conventional during key seasons and flows)

330

Fish surveys