Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Upper Pine Lake IA 02-IOW-760

Hardin County S4T87NR19W 0.5 mi E of Eldora.

Cycle
2022
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
4 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL has been completed or is not needed.
Trophic
Eutrophic
Trend
Stable
Created
12/22/2021 7:44:39 AM
Updated
2/1/2022 7:51:27 AM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Not Supported
Support Level
Not Supported
Impairment Code
4a - Pollutant-caused impairment. TMDL has been completed.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Agriculture
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
2004
Impairment Rationale
Narrative criteria violation: aesthetically objectionable conditions
Data Source
Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes
Class BWW1
Aquatic Life - Warm Water Type 1
Fully Supported
Class HH
Human Health -
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
No delistings for this assessment cycle.
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The Class A1 use was assessed (monitored) as “not supported” (IR 4a) due to elevated levels of chlorophyll a (algae) that cause aesthetically objectionable conditions. The level of inorganic suspended solids was relatively low and does not suggest water quality problems due to non-algal turbidity. The Class BWW1 use was assessed as “fully supported.” Nutrient loading to the water column and siltation also remain water quality concerns at this lake. All other designated uses were “not assessed.” Note: A TMDL for siltation at Upper Pine Lake was prepared in 2002 by DNR and approved by EPA. Additionally, TMDL for the algae impairment at this lake was prepared and approved by EPA in November 2014. Because all impairments at this lake are addressed by the two TMDL's(i.e., the algae impairment), this waterbody was moved from IR Category 5a to Category 4a (impaired; TMDL not required).

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2016-2020

22420002

Upper Pine Lake

Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria: No Data

Class A1 - pH

Site ID

Data Source ID

# Samples / # Years

Minimum Value

Maximum Value

Mean Value

# Violations

Violations needed for impairment

Violates Significantly >10% Rule?

Assessment Type

Support Level

22420002

6

15 / 5

7.2

9

8.3

0

4

NO

Monitored

Full

Class A1 - Lake TSI's

Site ID

Data Source ID

Parameter Name

# Samples / # Years

Minimum Value

Maximum Value

Median Value

Median TSI Violation?

Assessment Type

Support Level

22420002

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

15 / 5

36

79

65

YES

Monitored

Not

22420002

6

Secchi TSI

15 / 5

49

77

67

YES

Monitored

Not

22420002

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

15 / 5

43

75

70

NA

NA

NA

22420002

6

Inorganic suspended solids

15 / 5

0.3

19.6

4.5

NA

NA

NA

Class BWW1 - Conventional Parameters:

Site ID

Data Source ID

Parameter Name

# Samples / # Years

Minimum Value

Maximum Value

Mean Value

# Violations

# Acute / Chronic Violations

Violations needed for impairment

Violates Significantly >10% Rule?

Assessment Type

Support Level

22420002

6

Ammonia

15 / 5

0.003

0.387

0.12

NA

0 / 0

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22420002

6

Dissolved Oxygen

15 / 5

6.7

24.6

12.2

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22420002

6

pH

15 / 5

7.2

9

8.3

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22420002

6

Temperature

15 / 5

17.3

27.4

23.9

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

Class BLW - Lake Planktonic Cyanobacteria:

Site ID

Data Source ID

# Samples

Maximum Cyanobacteria Wet Mass

Maximum Cyanobacteria % Composition

Median Cyanobacteria Wet Mass

Median Cyanobacteria % Composition

Median Cyanobacteria Concentration = 75th Percentile

Assessment Type

Support Level

22420002

6

5

10.76

75.6%

1.90

9.1%

NO

Evaluated

NA

Class BWW1 - Fishkill:

According to Iowa DNR’s assessment/listing methodology, any IR 2b or 3b fish kills that occurred more than 10 years ago will be moved to IR Category 3a (not assessed) for the current (2022) IR cycle.

Class HH: No Data

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
6/9/2014
Fixed Monitoring Start Date
9/16/2018
Fixed Monitoring End Date
4/27/2009
Fish Kill
5/13/2003
TMDL Completed
11/3/2014
TMDL Completed
Methods
120
Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
140
Incidence of spills and/or fish kills
222
Non-fixed-station monitoring (conventional during key seasons and flows)
340
Primary producer surveys (phytoplankton/periphyton/macrophyton)