Spring Branch IA 01-MAQ-49

mouth (S10 T88N R5W Delaware Co.) to spring source in S35 T89N R5W Delaware Co.

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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Cycle: 2016
Release Status: Final
Overall IR: 2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
Trend: Unknown
Created: 3/2/2016 10:01:55 AM
Updated: 10/5/2016 9:28:24 AM

Use Support

Class A1

Presumptive Use

Recreation - Primary contact

Not Assessed

Class A2

Presumptive Use

Recreation - Secondary contact

Not Assessed

Class BCW1

Aquatic Life - Cold Water Type 1

Fully Supported

Class HH

Human Health -

Not Assessed

General Use

General Use water -

Not Assessed

Impairment Delistings

No delistings for this assessment cycle.

Documentation

Assessment Summary

The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses and presumptive Class A2 (secondary contact recreation) uses remain "not assessed" (IR 3a) due to the lack of data for indicator bacteria upon which to base an assessment. The Class B(CW1) coldwater aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported" (IR 2a) based on the February 2012 summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams as prepared by the IDNR Fisheries Bureau. Fish consumption (Class HH) uses remain "not assessed" (IR 3a).

Assessment Explanation

Based on a summary of trout reproduction in Iowa streams prepared by the IDNR Fisheries Bureau in February 2012, the Class B(CW1) uses are assessed as "fully supported". According to the updated summary, Spring Branch 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 Brook and Brown Trout at this time (a Category II stream). This assessment is consistent with previous assessments of the ability of this stream to support natural reproduction of trout.

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to lack of fish tissue monitoring in this stream reach.

Monitoring and Methods

Assessment Key Dates

2/1/2012

Biological Monitoring

Methods

120

Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals