Lake Of Three Fires IA 05-PLA-1476
Taylor County S12T68NR34W 2 mi NNE of Bedford.
The Class A1 use was assessed (monitored) as “not supported” due to aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by turbidity, aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algae blooms, and due to frequent violations of the state criterion for pH. The Class BLW use was assessed (monitored) as “not supported" due to violations of the state's criterion for dissolved oxygen and pH. In addition, the Class BLW use was assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” due to cyanobacteria blooms. The Class C use was assessed (monitored) as “not supported" due to violations of the state's criterion for pH. The Class HH (fish consumption) use was assessed (monitored) as “fully supported” based on fish tissue sampling data. Note: A TMDL for impacts of siltation and nutrients at Lake of Three Fires was prepared by DNR and approved by EPA in 2002. Additionally, a TMDL for indicator bacteria at Lake of Three Fires was prepared by DNR and approved by EPA in 2010. Because not all Section 303(d) impairments identified for the current assessment/listing cycle (dissolved oxygen and pH) are addressed in the two TMDLs, this lake is placed into IR Category 5a (TMDL needed.)
Data
Sources: Data Source Data Source ID Data Type Data Age Site ID Site
Name Site
Description Iowa DNR 6 WQ CY 2018-2020 21870001 Lake
of Three Fires Beach (Lake of Three Fires State Park) Iowa DNR 6 WQ CY 2016-2019 22870001 Lake
of Three Fires Max Depth Iowa DNR 6 FT See Below 158 Lake
of Three Fires Near
Bedford
Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria: Site ID Data Source ID # Samples per Year (2018/ 2019/2020) 2018 Geometric Mean 2019 Geometric Mean 2020 Geometric Mean Violates Annual Geometric Mean? # 2018 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment # 2019 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment # 2020 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment Violates Annual SSM Significantly >10% Rule? Assessment Type Support Level 21870001 6 11/15/15 16 11 22 NO 0 / 3 2 / 4 2 / 4 NO Monitored Full Lake of Three Fires was assessed as "not supported"
for the 2006 assessment/listing cycle. Based on DNR’s assessment methodology 2
consecutive assessment/listing cycles without violations of the geometric mean
criterion and without significantly greater than 10% of the samples violating
the single-sample maximum criterion are
necessary to propose delisting based on bacteria violations. There were no
violations of the geometric mean criterion and there were less than 10% of the
samples exceeding the single-sample maximum criterion for the 2020 or
current 2022 assessment listing cycles. Therefore, the impairment for
indicator bacteria is suggested for delisting (from 4a) for the 2022 assessment/listing
cycle. 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 22870001 6 12 / 4 7.5 9.7 8.6 4 4 YES Monitored Not 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 22870001 6 Chlorophyll a TSI 12 / 4 35 82 60 NO Monitored Full 22870001 6 Secchi TSI 12 / 4 53 73 68 YES Monitored Not 22870001 6 Total Phosphorus TSI 12 / 4 54 78 72 NA NA NA 22870001 6 Inorganic suspended solids 12 / 4 0.6 7 3.8 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 22870001 6 Ammonia 12 / 4 0.0003 0.228 0.05 NA 0 / 0 4 NO Monitored Full 22870001 6 Dissolved Oxygen 12 / 4 3.1 19.3 8.4 3 NA / NA 4 NO Monitored Full 22870001 6 pH 12 / 4 7.5 9.7 8.6 4 NA / NA 4 YES Monitored Not 22870001 6 Temperature 12 / 4 21.9 30.4 25.2 0 NA / NA 4 NO Monitored Full According to DNR's methodology, a lake must meet water
quality standards for two consecutive cycles to suggest
de-listing. Therefore, Lake of Three Fires will remain listed for
the 2022 cycle as "not supported" its Class BLW uses due to dissolved
oxygen. Class BLW - Lake Planktonic Cyanobacteria: Site ID Data Source ID # Samples Maximum Cyanobacteria Wet Mass Maximum Cyanobacteria % Composition Median Cyanobacteria Wet Mass Median Cyanobacteria % Composition Median Cyanobacteria Concentration = 75th Percentile Assessment Type Support Level 22870001 6 6 44.90 99.3% 28.45 88.0% YES Evaluated 3b 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 22870001 6 Inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite) 12 / 4 0.02 1.12 0.26 0.03 0 NO Monitored Full 22870001 6 pH 12 / 4 7.5 9.7 8.6 9 4 YES Monitored Not Class HH - Fish
Tissue Sampling: Site ID Biopart Year Species # in sample / # of samples Avg Length (cm) (Avg) Hg (ppm) Chlordane (ppm) Sum PCBs (ppm) 158 tissue plug 2019 largemouth bass 10 32.6 0.196
158 tissue plug 2017 largemouth bass 3 41.9 0.28
Support Level Full