Drainage Ditch 6 IA 02-WFC-809
mouth to trib S31T91NR20W Franklin Co.
- Cycle
- 2016
- Release Status
- Final
- Overall IR
- 4 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL has been completed or is not needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 12/22/2016 3:14:12 PM
- Updated
- 12/22/2016 3:14:47 PM
The presumptive Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are not assessed due to lack of water quality information upon which to base an assessment. The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as “partially supporting” (IR 4d) due to a suspected pollutant-caused fish kill in July 2015. This is a new impairment for this previously unassessed assessment segment. The source of data for this assessment is the results of an Iowa DNR fish kill investigation in July 2015.
The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed as “partially supported” due to a fish kill in that occurred on or before July 15, 2015, north of Bradford in Franklin County. Investigators attributed the kill to a spill of organic waste (egg wash water). An estimated 7,596 fish were killed. The kill affected approximately 2 miles of stream. The value of the fish killed was estimated at $2,774.30; the cost of the Iowa DNR investigation of the kill was $538.10. According to IDNR’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 value of the fish killed, the affected waterbody will be placed in IR Category 4d (impaired but TMDL not required). Iowa DNR sought and received restitution for the value of the fish killed and the costs of the Iowa DNR investigation of the fish kill. Thus, this segment is placed in IR Category 4d for Iowa’s 2016 Integrated Report.