English River IA 02-IOW-671

The Class A1 uses are assessed as "partially supported" based on results of ambient monitoring for indicator bacteria (E. coli).  The geometric means of indicator bacteria (E. coli) in the 24 samples collected during the recreational seasons of 2012 through 2014 at IDNR station 10920001 at Riverside were as follows:  the 2012 geometric mean was 345 orgs/100 ml, the 2013 geometric mean was 314 orgs/100 ml, and the 2014 geometric mean was 994 orgs/100 ml.  All three geometric means exceed the Class A1 criterion of 126 orgs/100 ml.  Twelve of the 24 samples (50%) exceeded the Class A1 single-sample maximum criterion of 235 orgs/100 ml.  According to U.S. EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) reporting and IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, if a recreation season geometric mean exceeds the respective water quality criterion, the contact recreation uses should be assessed as "impaired" (see pgs 3-33 to 3-35 of U.S. EPA 1997b).  Thus, because at least one recreation season geometric mean exceeded criteria for Class A1 uses, these uses are assessed as “impaired.”  Levels of indicator bacteria in this assessment segment are moderately high thus suggesting sources of bacteria beyond that contributing to background levels. 

Results of biological monitoring suggest that the Class B(WW1) uses should be assessed as “partially supported.”  Biological data were collected in 2001 and 2012-2014 as part of IDNR/SHL stream biocriteria and large river sampling projects.  A series of biological metrics which reflect stream water quality and habitat integrity were calculated from the biocriteria sampling data.  The biological metrics are based on the numbers and types of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and fish species that were collected in the stream sampling reach.  The biological metrics were combined to make a fish community index of biotic integrity (FIBI) and a benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI).  The indexes rank the biological integrity of a stream sampling reach on a rising scale from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum).  The 2001 FIBI score was 34 (fair).  The 2012-2014 BMIBI scores were 37, 40 (both fair) 71 (good).  The aquatic life use support was assessed as partially supporting (=PS), based on a comparison of the FIBI and BMIBI scores with biological impairment criteria (BIC) established from a statistical analysis of data collected at stream ecoregion reference sites from 1994-2008.  The FIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 36 and the BMIBI BIC for this ecoregion is 51.  This segment passed the FIBI BIC (using the uncertainty adjustment value (UAV) of 7 points) in 2004 and passed the BMIBI BIC 1/3 times in the last five years.  This assessment is considered evaluated because the drainage area (627 mi2) above this sampling site was greater than the maximum limit (500 mi2) that was used to calibrate the Iowa wadeable stream impairment criteria.  Even though this site passed the FIBI BIC (using the UAV +7) and failed the BMIBI BIC, it is uncertain as to whether or not this segment is meeting the aquatic life criteria because the site used for the assessment doesn’t fall in the calibrated watershed size.

 According to IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, impairments based on “evaluated” assessments are of lesser confidence and are thus not appropriate for Section 303(d) listing (Category 5 of the Integrated Report).  IDNR does, however, consider these impairments as appropriate for listing under either Category 2b or 3b of the Integrated Report (waters potentially impaired and in need of further investigation).   

In contrast to the biological assessment, the results of IDNR/SHL ambient chemical/physical monitoring at the Riverside station from 2012-2014 do not suggest water quality problems.  None of the approximately 36 samples collected during the 2012-2014 assessment period violated Class B(WW1) water quality criteria for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia-nitrogen, chloride, or sulfate. 

The fish consumption uses remain “not assessed” due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this river segment.