Oldham Lake IA 06-SOL-1676

Assessment Comments

Monitored in 1990 by ISU as part of the Clean Lakes Classification study (1994).

Basis for Assessment

Both swimmable and fishable uses were assessed as FST for the following reasons:  (1) results of monitoring show that average levels of secchi depth and TSS are slightly worse than overall averages for the 116 SPOLs sampled in 1990 and 1992; average levels of chl-a and total-P are better than overall averages; thus, lake has approximately average water quality for SPOLs in Iowa; (2) lake does not have problems with fishkills; (3) lake supports relatively high amount of swimming uses.   Lake has relatively high sedimentation rate (5.9 cm/yr) and relatively short life expectancy (52 years); thus, uses of the lake are threatened by siltation from NPS.