Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Minnewashta Lake IA 06-LSR-1650

Dickinson County S29T99NR36W 2 mi. NNE of Milford.

Cycle
2022
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
Trophic
Eutrophic
Trend
Stable
Created
1/4/2022 9:41:03 AM
Updated
2/2/2022 2:56:40 PM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Fully Supported
Class BLW
Aquatic Life - Lakes and wetlands
WINOFI
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Slight
Status
Continuing
Source
Other: Exotic Species
Source Confidence
High
Cycle Added
2016
Impairment Rationale
Adverse impacts on plant/animal communities
Data Source
Biological monitoring: Iowa DNR Fisheries
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Slight
Status
New
Source
Natural
Source Confidence
High
Cycle Added
2022
Impairment Rationale
Non Pollutant-caused fish kill
Data Source
Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR
Class HH
Human Health -
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
Cycle Added Class Cause Data Source Rationale
2018 Class A1 Algal Growth: Chlorophyll a Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes New data: WQ improvement (chemical / physical / bacterial)
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The Class A1 use was assessed (monitored) as “fully supported.” The Class BLW use was assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” due to an invasive species introduction (Zebra Mussels). The Class BLW use was also assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” based on the results of fish kill investigations. All other designated uses were “not assessed.”

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2016-2020

22300011

Lake Minnewashta

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

22300011

6

12 / 4

8

8.5

8.3

0

4

NO

Monitored

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

22300011

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

15 / 5

36

73

53

NO

Monitored

Full

22300011

6

Secchi TSI

15 / 5

41

70

59

NO

Monitored

Full

22300011

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

15 / 5

50

75

64

NA

NA

NA

22300011

6

Inorganic suspended solids

15 / 5

0.3

23.2

2.5

NA

NA

NA

DNR's assessment methodology indicates that at least two assessment/listing cycles with a TSI value less than or equal to 63 are necessary to suggest de-listing of an impairment. The chlorophyll a TSI value for the 2018 assessment listing cycle was 65, which based on DNR's assessment/listing methodology indicated an impairment based on the narrative criteria protecting against aesthetically objectionable conditions. Because the TSI value for the 2020 assessment/listing cycle was less than the trigger of 65 (2020 listing for chlorophyll a was 59), and because the TSI value for the current listing cycle is also 53, based on DNR's methodology, these values suggest "full support" of the Class A1 uses protecting against aesthetically objectionable conditions and the impairment (5a) for chlorophyll a is suggested for delisting for the 2022 assessment/listing cycle.

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

22300011

6

Ammonia

12 / 4

0.0003

0.052

0.01

NA

0 / 0

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22300011

6

Dissolved Oxygen

13 / 5

6.5

12.4

8.6

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22300011

6

pH

12 / 4

8

8.5

8.3

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22300011

6

Temperature

13 / 5

15.9

28

22.7

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

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

22300011

6

6

107.32

99.8%

25.43

83.8%

YES

Evaluated

WINOFI

Class BLW - Fish Kill Assessment:

The Class BLW aquatic life use assessment based on the 2020 fish kill placed this segment in Category 3b. This assessment was “evaluated” because: (1) the cause of the fish kill was not identified or (2) the fish kill was attributed to a non-pollutant cause (e.g., winterkill). Segments assessed using “evaluated” assessments are placed in Category 3b and are added to the state list of Waters In Need Of Further Investigation (WINOFI). If no additional fish kills are reported in this segment for a 10-year period (2030), the Category will be changed from 3b to 3a (not assessed).

Details about the 2020 fish kill can be found here:https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/995

Class BLW - Additional Information

The Class BLW use was assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” based on information from the DNR Fisheries Bureau and results from the ISU lake surveys. Based on information from the DNR Fisheries Bureau, this lake was infested with Zebra mussels in 2012 and the population exploded in 2015. This invasive species will likely cause water quality to degrade in the future. This potential impairment is not appropriate for Iowa’s Section 303(d) list of impaired waters (Integrated Report Category 5) but is appropriate for IR Category 3b of Iowa’s Integrated Report and Iowa’s list of waters in need of further investigation.

Class HH - No Data

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
6/2/2016
Fixed Monitoring Start Date
9/21/2020
Fixed Monitoring End Date
Methods
120
Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
222
Non-fixed-station monitoring (conventional during key seasons and flows)
340
Primary producer surveys (phytoplankton/periphyton/macrophyton)