DRAFT 2026 assessment for Paint Creek

Paint Creek IA 01-UIA-3081

from confluence with unnamed tributary (T79N R5W Sec15 Allamakee County) to headwaters (T98N R6W Sec25 Allamakee County)

This is a DRAFT assessment

Draft assessments may change without notice

2026
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 2022 - 2024
Stream/River Water Quality Data	CY 2022 - 2024
Lake Water Quality Data	CY 2020 - 2024
Biological Sampling Data	CY 2020 - 2024*
Fish Kill Data	CY 2020 - 2024
Fish Tissue Sampling Data	CY 2020 - 2024
Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Sampling Data	CY 2020 - 2024
*Biological sites sampled in both 2019 and 2023 were also assessed.

Open Segment Map
View 2026 assessment summary page

Overall IR

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

Trend

Stable

Current Phase

Public Comment

Created

10/27/2025 3:11:08 PM by

Updated

2/11/2026 1:10:42 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 Wastewater

Support Level

Further Investigation Needed

Impairment Code

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

Cause Magnitude

Slight

303(d) Listing Status

Continuing

Source

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

Source Confidence

High

Cycle Added

2022

Impairment Rationale

Potential Impairment

Data Source

Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR

303(d) Delistings for this Cycle

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The presumptive Class BWW1 use was assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” based on the result of a fish kill investigation. All other designated uses were "not assessed."

Assessment Explanation

Presumptive Class A1 - No Data

Presumptive Class BWW1 – Fish kill Assessment:

The presumptive Class BWW1 aquatic life use assessment based on the 2020 fish kill placed this segment in Category 3b. This assessment was “evaluated” because there was a single fish kill on this segment in the last five years. Segments assessed using “evaluated” assessments are placed in Category 3b and are added to the state list of Waters In Need Of Further Investigation (WINOFI). If no additional fish kills are reported in this segment for a 5-year period (2021-2025), the Category will be changed from 3b to 3a (not assessed). In addition, restitution for the fish killed in this fish kill was received in 2020 but the presumptive Class BWW1 use will remain placed in Category 3b. 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 2020 fish kill can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/999

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

7/20/2020

Fish Kill

Methods

120

Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals

140

Incidence of spills and/or fish kills