2016 assessment for Short Creek

Short Creek IA 02-IOW-2077

from mouth (T75N R04W Sec19 Louisa Co.) to headwaters(T75N R06W Sec3 Washington Co.)

2016
Open Data Collection Period Modal

For purposes of developing stream/river water quality assessments for integrated reporting, three years of water quality data are typically used for both conventional pollutant parameters (e.g., indicator bacteria) and the less frequently monitored toxic parameters (e.g., toxic metals). Since the 2004 IR cycle, DNR has used a three-year data gathering period for streams, rivers, and beaches. For most assessments, the use of three years of data increases the number of samples upon which the decision on use support is based and helps address the problem of weather-related year-to-year fluctuations in water quality.

Due to the lower sampling frequency in Iowa’s ambient lake, biological, fish kill, and fish tissue monitoring programs, five years of data are used for developing IR assessments and for identifying Section 303(d) listings.

Data Type	Data Timeframe
Beach Sampling Data	CY 2012 - 2014
Stream/River Water Quality Data	CY 2012 - 2014
Lake Water Quality Data	CY 2010 - 2014
Biological Sampling Data	CY 2010 - 2014*
Fish Kill Data	CY 2010 - 2014
Fish Tissue Sampling Data	CY 2010 - 2014
Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Sampling Data	CY 2010 - 2014
*Biological sites sampled in both 2009 and 2013 were also assessed.

Open Segment Map
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Overall IR

3 - Insufficient data exist to determine whether any designated uses are met.

Trend

Unknown

Created

9/13/2016 4:11:58 PM by

Updated

9/13/2016 4:11:58 PM by

Use Support

Class A1

Presumptive Use

Recreation - Primary contact

Not Assessed

Class BWW1

Presumptive Use

Aquatic Life - Warm Water Type 1

WINOFI

Fish Kill: Caused By Animal Waste

Support Level

Further Investigation Needed

Impairment Code

3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.

Cause Magnitude

Moderate

303(d) Listing Status

Continuing

Source

Agriculture: Animal Feeding Operations

Source Confidence

N/A

Cycle Added

2008

Impairment Rationale

Pollutant-caused fish kill

Data Source

Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR

General Use

General Use water -

Not Assessed

303(d) Delistings for this Cycle

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" (IR 3a) due to a lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment. The presumptive Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses remain assessed as "partially supporting" based on a fish kill in August 2007. Due to the age of this kill (greater than five years), this assessment is moved from IR Category 4d (fish kill-impaired; restitution sought & received) to IR Category 3b (potential impairment on list of waters in need of further investigation).

Assessment Explanation

[Note: Prior to the current (2008) Section 305(b) cycle, this stream segment was classified only for general uses. Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S. EPA in February 2008, this segment is now presumptively designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses and for Class B(WW1) aquatic life uses. According to the Iowa Water Quality Standards, all perennial rivers and streams and all intermittent streams with perennial pools that are not specifically listed in the Iowa surface water classification are designated as Class A1 and Class B(WW1) waters. Thus, for the current assessment, perennial flow is presumed, and the available water quality monitoring data will be compared to the applicable Class A1 and Class B(WW1) water quality criteria.]

EXPLANATION: The kill occurred on or before August 8, 2007 and was attributed to runoff from an open hog feedlot. Runoff from sprayers used to cool the hogs entered the stream and caused the fish kill. Approximately 118 fish were killed in a 2.85 mile stretch of the stream northeast of Cotter. The estimated value of the fish was $41.08. The party responsible for the kill was identified, and restitution was sought and received. This assessment was placed in Category 5b of the 2008 Integrated Report due to a lack of information on whether or not restitution was sought for this fish kill. Due to updated information regarding legal action this assessment was appropriate for Category 4d of Iowa's 2010 Integrated Report.

IDNR considers IR 4d fish kill waters with no subsequent kills in at least the five years subsequent to the kill as appropriate for movement to IR categories 2b or 3b (i.e., Iowa’s list of waters in need of further investigation). Thus, because this kill occurred more than five years ago, and because no subsequent kills have been reported, this impairment is moved from IR Category 4d to IR Category 3b.

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

8/8/2007

Fish Kill

Methods

120

Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals

140

Incidence of spills and/or fish kills