Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR

ADBNet

Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Lake Of Three Fires IA 05-PLA-1476

Taylor County S12T68NR34W 2 mi NNE of Bedford.

Assessment Cycle
2000
Result Period
1996 - 1998
Designations
Assessment Methodology
Assessment Type
Monitored
Integrated Report
Category 0
Legacy ADBCode
IA 05-PLA-00335-L_0
Overall Use Support
Partial
Aquatic Life Use Support
Partial
Fish Consumption
Fully
Primary Contact Recreation
Not assessed
Drinking Water
Not assessed
Documentation
Assessment Comments

Assessment based on surveys by IDNR Fisheries Bureau and U.S. EPA / IDNR fish tissue monitoring in July 1998.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class A (primary contact recreation uses) were "not assessed."  Continued to assess support of the Class B(LW) aquatic life uses as "partially supported."  Class C (drinking water) uses remained "not assessed."  Fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported."  EXPLANATION:  The level of support of the Class A (primary contact recreation) uses was changed from "partially supported" to "not assessed" due to the lack of information on levels of indicator bacteria at this lake.   This change in assessment reflects a change in the DNR's Section 305(b) assessment methodology and does not reflect any known change in water quality.   The previous (1998) assessment of support of the Class B(LW) uses ("partially supported") was reviewed and approved by the DNR Fisheries Bureau in 2000.   Class C (drinking water) uses remained "not assessed" due to lack of information upon which to base an assessment.   Fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported."  EPA/DNR fish tissue (RAFT) monitoring conducted in 1998 showed that levels of contaminants in the composite sample of fillets from channel catfish and largemouth bass were less than ½ of the respective FDA action levels and DNR levels of concern for organochlorine contaminants and mercury.   Thus, fish consumption uses were assessed as "fully supported."

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
7/20/1998 Fish Tissue Monitoring
Methods
120 Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
220 Non-fixed station physical/chemical monitoring (conventional pollutant only)
260 Fish tissue analysis
Monitoring Levels
Biological 0
Habitat 0
Physical Chemistry 3
Toxic 0
Pathogen Indicators 0
Other Health Indicators 0
Other Aquatic Life Indicators 0
# of Bio Sites 0
BioIntegrity N/A
Causes and Sources of Impairment
Causes Use Support Cause Magnitude Sources Source Magnitude
Nutrients Overall Use Support Moderate
  • Agriculture
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Natural Sources
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • Moderate
Nutrients Aquatic Life Support Moderate
  • Agriculture
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Natural Sources
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • Moderate
Nutrients Primary Contact Recreation Moderate
  • Agriculture
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Natural Sources
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • Moderate
Siltation Overall Use Support Moderate
  • Agriculture
  • Natural Sources
  • Moderate
  • Slight
Siltation Aquatic Life Support Moderate
  • Agriculture
  • Natural Sources
  • Moderate
  • Slight
Suspended solids Overall Use Support Moderate
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
Suspended solids Aquatic Life Support Moderate
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
Suspended solids Primary Contact Recreation Moderate
  • Sediment resuspension
  • Moderate
Algal Grwth/Chlorophyll a Overall Use Support Slight
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Moderate
Algal Grwth/Chlorophyll a Aquatic Life Support Slight
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Moderate
Algal Grwth/Chlorophyll a Primary Contact Recreation Slight
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Moderate
Noxious aquatic plants Primary Contact Recreation Slight
  • Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes)
  • Moderate
Organic enrichment/Low DO Overall Use Support Slight
  • Agriculture
  • Natural Sources
  • Moderate
  • Slight
Organic enrichment/Low DO Aquatic Life Support Slight
  • Agriculture
  • Natural Sources
  • Moderate
  • Slight