Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Browns Lake IA 06-WEM-1735

Woodbury County S32T87NR47W 2 mi W of Salix.

Cycle
2022
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
Trophic
Hypereutrophic
Trend
Stable
Created
1/4/2022 3:10:17 PM
Updated
1/6/2022 10:37:53 AM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Not Supported
Support Level
Not Supported
Impairment Code
5a - Pollutant-caused impairment. TMDL needed.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Other: Sediment Resuspension
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
2004
Impairment Rationale
Narrative criteria violation: aesthetically objectionable conditions
Data Source
Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes
TMDL Priority
Tier IV
Class BLW
Aquatic Life - Lakes and wetlands
Fully Supported
Class HH
Human Health -
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
Cycle Added Class Cause Data Source Rationale
2016 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 “not supported” due to poor water transparency and aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algae blooms. The Class BLW use was assessed (monitored) as “fully supported.” 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 2016-2019

22970001

Browns Lake

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

22970001

6

3/3/0

3

16

NA

NO

0 / NA

0 / NA

NA

NO

Evaluated

Full

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

22970001

6

12 / 4

8

8.7

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

22970001

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

12 / 4

44

75

56

NO

Monitored

Full

22970001

6

Secchi TSI

12 / 4

55

83

74

YES

Monitored

Not

22970001

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

12 / 4

67

82

76

NA

NA

NA

22970001

6

Inorganic suspended solids

12 / 4

0.6

30

13.5

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 2016 assessment listing cycle was 67, 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 63), and because the TSI value for the current listing cycle is also 56, 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

22970001

6

Ammonia

12 / 4

0.0003

0.267

0.09

NA

0 / 0

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22970001

6

Dissolved Oxygen

12 / 4

6.7

12.1

8.8

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22970001

6

pH

12 / 4

8

8.7

8.3

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22970001

6

Temperature

12 / 4

14.9

28.1

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

22970001

6

6

27.33

57.6%

13.91

47.7%

NO

Evaluated

NA

Class HH: No Data

The Class HH "full support" based on fish tissue monitoring was removed based on the age of the data.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
5/17/2016
Fixed Monitoring Start Date
8/19/2019
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)
420
Indicator bacteria monitoring