South Branch Fountain Spring Creek IA 01-TRK-183

A fish kill occurred on this stream reach on September 11, 2008.  The kill affected 1.9 miles of the South Branch of Fountain Spring Creek, Delaware County near Greeley.  The kill was caused by high levels of ammonia due to manure runoff from an open feedlot.  The kill affected almost exclusively trout.  Fish carcass condition suggested that fish had been dead for 1-3 days.  A high-quality trout fishery exists in Fountain Springs Creek and dead trout included recent “put-and-take” rainbow trout and feral brown trout up to 15 inches in length.  Fountain Springs Creek annually supports about 14,500 fishing trips and is of significant importance to the rural community in northeast Delaware County.  An estimated 55 fish were killed.  The party responsible for the kill was identified.  IDNR sought and received restitution for the value of the fish killed and the costs of investigation of the kill. 

The assessment of impairment is in contrast to that suggested by a summary of trout reproduction in Iowa's coldwater streams.  Based on the updated summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the IDNR Fisheries Bureau in January 2016, the Class B(CW1) uses of Fountain Springs (both IA-01-TRK-182 and 183) are assessed as "fully supported".  According to the updated summary, this stream is in the group of Iowa coldwater streams that supports natural reproduction of trout.  Based on results of surveys by the IDNR Fisheries Bureau, this stream is placed in the category of Iowa trout streams that exhibit recent, but inconsistent reproductive success and that are generally not capable of maintaining a viable population of Brown Trout at this time.  The influence of the September 2008 fish kill on the ability of this stream to support natural reproduction of trout is not known. 

According to IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, the occurrence of a single pollutant-caused fish kill, or a fish kill of unknown origin, on a waterbody or waterbody reach during the most recent assessment period indicates a severe stress to the aquatic community and suggests that the aquatic life uses should be assessed as “impaired.”  If a cause of the kill is identified, and the cause is either known, or suspected, to be a “pollutant,” the assessment type is considered “monitored” and the affected waterbody is a candidate for Section 303(d) listing.  If, however, a consent order has been issued to the party responsible for the kill and monetary restitution has been sought for the fish killed, the affected waterbody will be placed in IR Category 4d (impaired but TMDL not required).  IDNR feels that (1) TMDLs should not be required for kills caused by a one-time illegal or unauthorized release of manure or other toxic substance where enforcement actions were taken and (2) enforcement action is more appropriate, efficient, and effective for addressing a spill-related impairment than is the TMDL process.  Thus, this assessment segment was placed in Category 4d of Iowa’s 2010 Integrated Report and remained in Category 4d of Iowa’s Integrated Report 2012 and 2014 Integrated Reports.  IDNR considers IR 4d fish kill waters with no subsequent kills reported in at least five years subsequent to the kill as appropriate for movement from IR Category 4d to either categories IR 2b or IR 3b (i.e., Iowa’s list of waters in need of further investigation).   Thus, because this kill occurred more than five years ago and this stream only shows inconsistent trout reproductive success, this assessment segment is moved from IR Category 4d to Category 3b of Iowa’s current (2016) Integrated Report.