Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Hawthorn Lake IA 03-NSK-862

Mahaska County S10T77NR14W 1 mi S of Barnes City.

This is a DRAFT assessment
Draft assessments may change without notice
Cycle
2026
Current Phase
Public Comment
Overall IR
2 - Some of the designated uses are met but there is insufficient data to determine if remaining designated uses are met.
Trophic
Eutrophic
Trend
Improving
Trend Comment
Removal of an Algal Growth: Chlorophyll a impairment.
Created
10/27/2025 3:11:41 PM
Updated
1/12/2026 8:34:27 AM
Use Support
Class A1
Recreation - Primary contact
Fully Supported
Class BLW
Aquatic Life - Lakes and wetlands
WINOFI
Impairment Code
3b - Use potentially impaired based on an evaluated assessment.
Cause Magnitude
Slight
Status
Continuing
Source
Agriculture
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
2022
Impairment Rationale
Adverse impacts on plant/animal communities
Data Source
Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes
Class HH
Human Health -
Not Assessed
Impairment Delistings
Cycle Added Class Cause Data Source Rationale
2010 Class A1 Algal Growth: Chlorophyll a Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes New data: WQ improvement (chemical / physical / bacterial)
Documentation
Assessment Summary

The Class A1 was assessed as “fully supported.” The Class BLW use was assessed (evaluated) as “WINOFI” due to cyanobacteria blooms. All other designated uses were “not assessed.” Note: A TMDL for algae at Hawthorn lake was prepared by DNR and approved by EPA in 2025.

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2020-2024

22620001

Hawthorn 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

22620001

6

15 / 5

7.4

8.9

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

22620001

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

15 / 5

42

68

62

NO

MONITORED

FULL

22620001

6

Secchi TSI

15 / 5

49

70

64

NO

MONITORED

FULL

22620001

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

15 / 5

49

64

60

NA

NA

NA

22620001

6

Fixed suspended solids

15 / 5

0.7

6.5

3

NA

NA

NA

DNR's assessment methodology indicates that a TSI value less than or equal to 63 are necessary to suggest de-listing of an impairment. The chlorophyll a TSI value for the 2010 assessment listing cycle was 65, which based on DNR's assessment/listing methodology indicated an impairment based on the narrative criteria protecting against aesthetically objectionable conditions. Because the TSI value for the 2026 assessment/listing cycle is less than or equal to the delisting trigger of 63 (median TSI value for chlorophyll a was 62), based on DNR's methodology, these values suggest "full support" of the Class A1 uses protecting against aesthetically objectionable conditions and the impairment (5a) for chlorophyll a is suggested for delisting for the 2026 assessment/listing cycle. Additionally, de-listing is suggested based on a TMDL for algae being completed and approved in 2025.

Class BLW - Binomial 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

22620001

6

Dissolved Oxygen

14 / 5

5

9.87

7.18

0

NA / NA

4

NO

MONITORED

FULL

22620001

6

pH

15 / 5

7.4

8.9

8.3

0

NA / NA

4

NO

MONITORED

FULL

22620001

6

Temperature

15 / 5

19

29.1

24.2

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

22620001

6

4

193.1284

97.52%

39.8806

78.47%

YES

EVALUATED

WINOFI

Class BLW - Toxic Parameters:

Site ID

Data Source ID

Parameter Name

# Samples / # Years

Maximum Value

Mean Value

Median Value

# Acute / Chronic Violations

>1 Acute / Chronic Violation

Assessment Type

Support Level

22620001

6

Ammonia

15 / 5

0.345

0.07

0.02

0 / 0

NO

MONITORED

FULL

Class HH - Toxic Parameters: No Data

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
6/11/2020
Monitoring Start
8/28/2024
Monitoring End
3/13/2025
TMDL Completed
Methods
200
Physical/Chemical Monitoring
340
Primary producer surveys (phytoplankton/periphyton/macrophyton)