Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Arbor Lake IA 03-NSK-864

Poweshiek County S20T80NR16W W edge of Grinnell

Cycle
2022
Release Status
Final
Overall IR
4 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL has been completed or is not needed.
Trophic
Hypereutrophic
Trend
Stable
Created
12/22/2021 2:13:24 PM
Updated
2/17/2022 10:11:13 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
High
Status
Continuing
Source
Multiple Sources
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
2004
Impairment Rationale
Narrative criteria violation: aesthetically objectionable conditions
Data Source
Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes
Support Level
Not Supported
Impairment Code
4a - Pollutant-caused impairment. TMDL has been completed.
Cause Magnitude
Moderate
Status
Continuing
Source
Multiple Sources
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
2004
Impairment Rationale
Narrative criteria violation: aesthetically objectionable conditions
Data Source
Ambient monitoring: Iowa DNR-lakes
Class BLW
Aquatic Life - Lakes and wetlands
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” due to poor water transparency and the presence of aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algal blooms. The Class BLW use was assessed (monitored) as “fully supported”. All other designated uses were “not assessed.” Note: A TMDL for siltation and nutrients at Arbor Lake was prepared by DNR and approved by EPA in 2003. Because all Section 303(d) impairments identified in this assessment/listing cycle (algal growth, nutrients, and siltation) are addressed by the TMDL, Arbor Lake remains in IR Category 4a (TMDL approved).

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2016-2019

22790004

Arbor Lake Max Depth

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

22790004

6

12 / 4

7.4

8.6

8.2

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

22790004

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

12 / 4

26

70

64

NO

Monitored

Full

22790004

6

Secchi TSI

12 / 4

63

76

70

YES

Monitored

Not

22790004

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

12 / 4

67

78

72

NA

NA

NA

22790004

6

Inorganic suspended solids

12 / 4

5

56.5

11

NA

NA

NA

Although the index value for Chlorophyll a is below the impairment trigger of 65 for this assessment cycle, the Class A1 use of Arbor Lake remains "not supported" due to aesthetically objectionable conditions. Based on DNR's methodology, the median TSI value for Chlorophyll a must be 63 or less for two consecutive assessment/listing cycles before a lake can be removed from the state's Section 303(d) list (IR Category 5). Therefore, Arbor Lake will remain listed as "not supported" for the 2022 assessment/listing cycle.

Class BLW - 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

22790004

6

Ammonia

12 / 4

0.0003

0.352

0.14

NA

0 / 0

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22790004

6

Dissolved Oxygen

12 / 4

4.5

13.5

9.7

1

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22790004

6

pH

12 / 4

7.4

8.6

8.2

0

NA / NA

4

NO

Monitored

Full

22790004

6

Temperature

12 / 4

20.1

28.1

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

22790004

6

5

73.31

94.7%

12.64

64.0%

NO

Evaluated

NA

Class HH - No Data

Note: Causes of impairments are attributed to multiple sources including Agriculture, Internal nutrient cycling (primarily lakes), Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers, and Naturals sources.

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
6/20/2016
Non-fixed Monitoring Start Date
9/18/2020
Non-fixed Monitoring End Date
1/30/2003
TMDL Completed
Methods
120
Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals
222
Non-fixed-station monitoring (conventional during key seasons and flows)
340
Primary producer surveys (phytoplankton/periphyton/macrophyton)