Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of IDNR ambient monthly monitoring downstream from Marshalltown in 2000-01.

Basis for Assessment

For the 2002 report:  SUMMARY:  The Class A (primary contact recreation) uses were assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported," and the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were assessed as "fully supported."  Fish consumption uses were not assessed.   The source of data for this assessment is the results of monthly monitoring from April 2000 through September 2001 at the IDNR ambient city monitoring station located downstream from Marshalltown at the county road E35 bridge.   EXPLANATION: The Class A uses were assessed as "partially supported."  For purposes of Section 305(b) assessments, DNR uses the long-term average monthly flow plus one standard deviation of this average to identify river flows that are materially affected by surface runoff.   According to the Iowa Water Quality Standards (IAC 1990:8), the water quality criterion for fecal coliform bacteria (200 orgs/100 ml) does not apply "when the waters are materially affected by surface runoff."  Seven of the 10 samples collected from the Co.Rd.  E35 station during the 2000 and 2001 recreational seasons were collected at flows not materially affected by surface runoff.   The geometric mean level of indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms) in these 7 non-runoff-affected samples (88 orgs/100ml) is well below the Iowa Class A water quality criterion of 200 orgs/100ml.   However, one of the 7 samples (14%) exceeded the U.S.  EPA-recommended single-sample maximum value of 400 orgs/100 ml.   According to U.S.  EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) reporting, if more than 10% of the samples exceed the single-sample maximum value of 400 orgs/100 ml, the primary contact recreation uses are "partially supported" (see pgs 3-33 to 3-35 of U.S.  EPA 1997b).   Because less than 10 non-flow affected samples were available for this assessment, the assessment type is considered "evaluated"; thus, this assessment is not of sufficient quality to support a Section 303(d) listing.   The Class B(WW) aquatic life uses were assessed as "fully supported."  Monitoring at the Co.Rd.  E35 station showed no violations of Class B(WW) water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen or ammonia-nitrogen in the 14 samples collected, for toxic metals in the 14 samples collected, and for toxic organic compounds in the four samples analyzed, during the 2000-2001 biennial period.   The level of pH, however, violated the Class B(WW) criterion of 9.0 pH units in one sample.   The sample collected on August 21, 2000, had a pH level of 9.1 units which is greater than the Iowa water quality standard of 9.0 pH units.   This violation occurred on a day with a relatively high level of dissolved oxygen (12.4 mg/l) and a percent DO saturation of 140%.   These conditions suggest that a high level of primary productivity resulted in the high level of pH.   Because this violation is more related to natural conditions than to pollution, the occurrence of the high level of pH in this river segment is not seen as a water quality impairment.   Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to lack of recent fish tissue monitoring in this river segment.