Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of IDNR ambient monthly water quality monitoring conducted on the North Skunk River southwest of Sigourney in Keokuk Co. (STORET station 10540001) during the 2006-2008 assessment period.

Basis for Assessment

[Note:  Prior to the 2008 Section 305(b) cycle, this river segment was designated only for Class B(LR) aquatic life uses.   Due to changes in Iowa’s surface water classification that were approved by U.S.   EPA in February 2008 (see http://www.iowadnr.com/water/standards/files/06mar_swc.pdf) and due to the completion of a Use Attainability Analysis, this segment is also now designated for Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses.   This segment remains designated for warmwater aquatic life use (now termed Class B(WW2) uses).]

SUMMARY:  The Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses are assessed (monitored) as "not supported" due to levels of indicator bacteria that violate state water quality criteria.   The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed as "not supporting" due to violations of state water quality criteria for chromium.   The assessments of support of beneficial uses are based on results of IDNR ambient monthly water quality monitoring conducted on the North Skunk River southwest of Sigourney in Keokuk Co.   (STORET station 10540001) during the 2004-2006 assessment period.   Data from this monitoring station were also used to assess support of the Class A1 and B(WW1) uses of the adjacent downstream segment of the North Skunk River (IA 03-NSK-0010-1:  mouth to the confluence with Cedar Creek near Sigourney).  

EXPLANATION:  The Class A1 uses are assessed (monitored) as "not supported" based on results of ambient monitoring for indicator bacteria (E.   coli).   The geometric mean level of indicator bacteria (E.   coli) in the 22 samples collected (605 orgs/100ml) far exceeds the Iowa Class A1 water quality criterion of 126 orgs/100ml.    Sixteen of the 22 samples (73%) exceed Iowa’s single-sample maximum value of 235 orgs/100 ml.    According to U.S.   EPA guidelines for Section 305(b) reporting and according to IDNR’s assessment/listing methodology, if the geometric mean level of E.   coli is greater than the state criterion of 126 orgs/100 ml., the primary contact recreation uses should be assessed as "not supported" (see pgs 3-33 to 3-35of U.S.   EPA 1997b).  

The Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses are assessed (monitored) as “not supported due to violations of the acute criterion for chromium.   None of the 34 samples collected at station 10540001 during the 2006-2008 assessment period violated Class B(WW2) water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, pH or ammonia-nitrogen.    With the exception of chromium, neither of the two samples analyzed for toxic metals during the 2006-2008 period exceeded their respective Class B(WW2) aquatic life criteria.   One of two samples, however, violated the acute aquatic life criterion for chromium of 0.016 mg/l.   This violation occurred in April 2006 and was equal to the IDNR/UHL detection level of 0.02 mg/l.  

Metals monitoring has not been conducted as this station since April 2006, and only two samples were collected during the 2006-2008 assessment period.   This limited amount of data can not support a valid water quality assessment.   If the most recent three years of water quality data are considered (2004-2006), ten samples were analyzed for total chromium.   Levels of chromium in two of these samples (collected on April 13, 2005 and April 5, 2006) contained 0.02 mg/l of total chromium and thus exceeded the Class B(WW2) aquatic life acute criterion of 0.016 mg/l.   The remaining eight samples were reported as less than the detection level of 0.02 mg/l.   Based on Iowa DNR’s assessment/listing methodology, more than one violation of an acute water quality criterion for a toxic parameter over a three-year period suggests impairment of aquatic life uses.   Thus, the violations of the chromium criterion suggests that the Class B(WW2) aquatic life uses of this assessment segment should be assessed as impaired.   [Note:  Prior to EPA approval in 2009, Iowa’s Class B(WW2) acute criterion for chromium was 0.30 mg/l, and the chronic criterion was 0.20 mg/l.]