Littlefield Lake IA 05-NSH-1439

For the 2016 assessment/listing cycle, the Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses of Littlefield Lake are assessed (monitored) as "not supported" due to poor water transparency and aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algae blooms based on information from the ISU lake survey. Using the median values from these surveys from 2010-2014 (approximately 15 samples), Carlson 's (1977) trophic state indices for Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus were 76, 67, and 79 respectively for Littlefield Lake. According to Carlson (1977) the Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus values all place Littlefield Lake in between the Eutrophic and the Hypereutrophic categories. These values suggest 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 data show 2 violations of the Class A1 criterion for pH in 15 samples.

Note:  A TMDL for algae and turbidity at Littlefield Lake was prepared by IDNR and approved by EPA in 2006.   Because all Section 303(d) impairments identified for the 2016 assessment/listing cycle (algal growth, and turbidity) are addressed by the TMDL, this waterbody is placed in IR Category 4a (impaired; TMDL approved). 

The level of inorganic suspended solids was very high at Littlefield Lake, and does suggest that non-algal turbidity contributes to the impairment at this lake. The median level of inorganic suspended solids in Littlefield Lake (14 mg/L) was ranked 127th among the 138 lakes by the ISU lake survey.

Data from the 2010-2014 ISU lake survey suggest a large population of cyanobacteria exists at Littlefield Lake, which suggests the potential for an impairment due to nuisance aquatic life These data show that cyanobacteria comprised 96% of the phytoplankton wet mass at this lake. The median cyanobacteria wet mass (62.5 mg/L) was ranked 122nd of the 138 lakes sampled. This median is in the worst 25% of the 138 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 2010-2014. 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. 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 (monitored) as “fully supported” although nutrient loading and the impacts of sedimentation remain concerns at this lake. Results of the ISU lake survey from 2010-2014 show there were no violations of the criterion for ammonia in 15 samples(0%), no violations of the criterion for dissolved oxygen in 15 samples(0%), and 2 violations of the criterion for pH in 15 samples(13%). Based on IDNR's assessment methodology these violations are not significantly greater than 10% of the samples and therefore suggest (fully supported/monitored) of the Class B(LW) uses of Littlefield Lake.

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring at this lake.