ADBNet

Assessment Comments

Monitored in 1990 by ISU for Clean Lakes Classification study (1994); DSC watershed analysis (1991).

Basis for Assessment

Fishable uses were assessed as PS & swimmable as PS for the following reasons:  (1) BPJ of DNR Fisheries; (2) results of monitoring show that average levels of total-P and TSS are equal to or slightly worse than the overall averages for the 86 SPO impoundments sampled in 1990 and 1992; (3) average levels of chl-a and secchi depth are much worse than the overall avg w/ the level of chl-a worse than the overall avg + 1 SD; (3) fishery of lake declining, and lake has problems with fishkills (DSC 1991); (4) lake supports moderately low amounts of fishing and swimming, but this may reflect low user population.   The sedimentation rate (2.9 cm/yr) and life expectancy (94 years) are typical for SPO impoundments in Iowa.   The high levels of chl-a and low secchi, however, suggest that the lake is impaired by high levels of nutrients in ag NPSP and by lack of depth to stratify.