Iowa DNR
ADBNet

Water Quality Assessments

Impaired Waters List

Ioway Creek IA 03-SSK-6459

from unnamed tributary (T85N R25W Sec9 NW Boone Co.) to headwaters (T87N R26W Sec34 Hamilton Co.)

Assessment Cycle
2018
Release Status
Final
Data Collection Period
Overall IR Category
4 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL has been completed or is not needed.
Trend
Unknown
Created
7/19/2019 12:09:54 PM
Updated
7/19/2019 12:17:23 PM
Assessment conducted in accordance with Iowa's 2018 IR methodology
Use Support
Class A1
Not Assessed
Class BWW1
Partially Supported
Fish Kill: Caused By Animal Waste
Support Level
Partially Supported
Impairment Code
4d - Pollutant-caused fish kill. No TMDL needed and administrative action taken against responsible party.
Cause Magnitude
High
Status
Continuing
Source
Agriculture: Animal Feeding Operations
Source Confidence
N/A
Cycle Added
2014
Impairment Rationale
Pollutant-caused fish kill
Data Source
Fish kill investigation: Iowa DNR
General Use
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 lack of information upon which to base an assessment.  The presumptive Class B(WW1) (aquatic life) uses remain assessed as "partially supported" due to the occurrence of a fish kill in August 2011.   

Assessment Explanation

The presumptive Class B(WW1) (aquatic life) uses are assessed (evaluated) as "partially supported" due to the occurrence of a fish kill in August 2011. Approximately 30,300 fish were killed over 2.75 miles of stream. The value of the fish was reported as $13,750.22; the cost of the DNR investigation was $641.56. The cause of the kill was identified as land-applied animal (swine) manure.

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. Fish kills attributed to a pollutant, but where a source of the pollutant was not identified and/or where enforcement actions were not taken against the responsible party, will be placed into Integrated Report subcategory 5b. The intent of placing these waterbodies into Category 5 is not to necessarily require a TMDL but to keep the impairment highlighted due to the potential for similar future kills from the unaddressed causes and/or sources. 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 records show that the party responsible for the kill was identified and the value of the fish killed and the costs incurred during investigation were sought and received. Thus, this assessment segment remains in Category 4d of Iowa’s Integrated Report.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
8/20/2011 Fish Kill
Methods
120 Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
140 Incidence of spills and/or fish kills
150 Monitoring data more than 5 years old