Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR

ADBNet

Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Dry Branch IA 01-TRK-2002

confluence with unnamed tributary in the N 1/2 S4 T95N R8W Fayette Co. to headwaters in SW1/4 S33 T97N R8W Winneshiek Co.

This is a DRAFT assessment
Draft assessments may change without notice
Overall IR
5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
Trend
Unknown
Current Phase
Public Comment
Created
10/27/2025 3:11:33 PM by
Updated
12/29/2025 8:32:10 AM by
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Not Supported
Support Level
Not Supported
Impairment Code
5p - Impairment occurs on a waterbody with a presumptive A1 or B(WW1) use.
Cause Magnitude
High
303(d) Listing Status
Continuing
Source
Unknown: Source Unknown
Source Confidence
N/A
Cycle Added
2014
Impairment Rationale
Geometric mean criterion exceeded
Data Source
Watershed project monitoring
TMDL Priority
Tier III
Class BWW1
Aquatic Life - Warm Water Type 1
Not Supported
Support Level
Not Supported
Impairment Code
4d - Pollutant-caused fish kill. No TMDL needed and administrative action taken against responsible party.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
303(d) Listing Status
Continuing
Source
Agriculture
Source Confidence
Low
Cycle Added
2026
Impairment Rationale
Pollutant-caused fish kill
Data Source
Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR
No delistings for this assessment cycle.
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The presumptive Class A1 use remains assessed as “not supported” due to violations of Iowa water quality criteria for indicator bacteria (E. coli). The presumptive Class BWW1 use was assessed as "not supported" based on the occurrence of two fish kills in this segment in the last five years.

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2012-2014

15960015

Dry Branch at 110 St

DBR30


Presumptive Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria:

Site ID

Data Source ID

# Samples / # Years

2012 Geometric Mean

2013 Geometric Mean

2014 Geometric Mean

Annual Geometric Mean Violation

# Violations

% Violations

Significantly >10% Violations

Assessment Type

Support Level

15960015

6

25 / 3

1700

3702

183

Yes

18

72%

Yes

Evaluated

Not


Presumptive Class BWW1 – Fish kill Assessment:

The presumptive Class BWW1 aquatic life use assessment based on the 2021 and 2024 fish kills placed this segment in Category 4d. The fish kills were caused by a “pollutant” or were suspected to be caused by a “pollutant”; therefore, the presumptive Class BWW1 use was considered impaired. However, because restitution for the fish killed during both fish kills was received, the presumptive Class BWW1 use was placed in Category 4d (impaired but TMDL not required). DNR feels that (1) TMDLs should not be required for a fish kill caused by a one-time illegal or unauthorized release of a pollutant where enforcement action was taken and (2) enforcement action is more appropriate and effective for addressing a spill-related impairment than the TMDL process.


Details about the 2021 fish kill can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/1014

Details about the 2024 fish kill can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/events/1064

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
4/4/2012
Monitoring Start
11/5/2014
Monitoring End
9/18/2024
Fish Kill
7/9/2021
Fish Kill
Methods
120
Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
140
Incidence of spills and/or fish kills
150
Monitoring data more than 5 years old
420
Indicator bacteria monitoring