Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Rose Creek IA 05-NOD-6310

from mouth (T73N R36W Sec5 Montgomery Co.) to headwaters (T74N R36W Sec4 Cass Co.)

Cycle
2018
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
3 - Insufficient data exist to determine whether any designated uses are met.
Trend
Unknown
Created
7/22/2019 7:24:00 AM
Updated
7/22/2019 11:43:59 AM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Not Assessed
Class BWW1
Aquatic Life - Warm Water Type 1
WINOFI
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Slight
Status
Continuing
Source
Spills/Dumping: Spills From Trucks or Trains
Source Confidence
High
Cycle Added
2010
Impairment Rationale
Pollutant-caused fish kill
Data Source
Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR
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 remain "not assessed" due to a lack of information upon which to base an assessment. The presumptive Class B(WW-1) aquatic life uses of this stream remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" due to a fish kill in March 2009.

Assessment Explanation

The kill occurred on or before March 18, 2009 and was attributed to manure contaminated water from a truck wash facility that was released into a ditch that flows into Rose Creek. Approximately 1,230 fish were killed with an estimated value of $110.70. The fish kill began near the center of Section 28 (T74N R36W) Noble Township in Cass County and extended 3 miles to the confluence with Seven-Mile Creek in Section 5 (T73N R36W) of Douglas Township in Montgomery County. Updated information shows that DNR sought and received restitution for this fish kill.

According to DNR’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). DNR 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 2012 cycle. DNR considers IR Category 4d waterbodies where no additional kills have been reported for this stream for over five years, as appropriate for IR Category 2b/3b. Thus, this assessment is moved to IR Category 3b for the 2016 cycle and remains in that category for the current cycle.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
3/18/2009
Fish Kill
Methods
140
Incidence of spills and/or fish kills
150
Monitoring data more than 5 years old