Mariposa Lake IA 03-NSK-867

For the 2016 assessment/listing cycle, the Class A1 (primary contact recreation) uses of Mariposa Lake are assessed (monitored) as "not supported" due to poor water transparency and aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by algae blooms based on information from the ISU lake survey. Using the median values from these surveys from 2010-2014 (approximately 15 samples), Carlson 's (1977) trophic state indices for Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus were 77, 70, and 78 respectively for Mariposa Lake. According to Carlson (1977) the Secchi depth, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus values all place Mariposa Lake in the Hypereutrophic category. These values suggest very high levels of chlorophyll a and suspended algae in the water, extremely poor water transparency, and extremely high levels of phosphorus in the water column. The data show 3 violations of the Class A1 criterion for pH in 15 samples. Mariposa Lake was assessed as "partially supported" for the 2012 assessment/listing cycle. Based on IDNR’s assessment methodology 2 consecutive assessment/listing cycles without significantly greater than 10% of the samples violating the single-sample maximum criterion are necessary to propose delisting based on pH violations.  There were less than 10% of the samples exceeding the single-sample maximum criterion for both the 2014 and 2016 assessment/listing cycles.   Therefore, the impairment (4a) for pH is suggested for delisting for the 2016 assessment/listing cycle.

Note:  A TMDL for algae and turbidity at Mariposa Lake was prepared by IDNR and approved by EPA in 2004; thus, this waterbody was placed into IR Category 4a (TMDL approved) for the 2004 assessment/listing cycle.   Because all Section 303(d) impairments identified for the 2016 assessment/listing cycle (algal growth and turbidity) are addressed by the TMDL, this waterbody remains in IR Category 4a.  

The level of inorganic suspended solids was high at Mariposa Lake, and does suggest that non-algal turbidity contributes to the impairment at this lake. The median level of inorganic suspended solids in Mariposa Lake (9.3 mg/L) was ranked 115th among the 138 lakes by the ISU lake survey.

Data from the 2010-2014 ISU lake survey suggest a large population of cyanobacteria exists at Mariposa Lake, which suggests the potential for an impairment due to nuisance aquatic life These data show that cyanobacteria comprised 98% of the phytoplankton wet mass at this lake. The median cyanobacteria wet mass (123.3 mg/L) was ranked 134th of the 138 lakes sampled. This median is in the worst 25% of the 138 lakes sampled. The presence of a large population of cyanobacteria at this lake suggests a potential violation of Iowa's narrative water quality standard protecting against the occurrence of nuisance aquatic life. This assessment is based strictly on the distribution of the lake-specific median cyanobacteria values from 2010-2014. Median levels greater than the 75th percentile of this distribution were arbitrarily considered to represent potential impairment. No other criteria exist, however, upon which to base a more accurate identification of impairments due to cyanobacteria. Assessments based on level of cyanobacteria will be considered "evaluated" (indicating an assessment with relatively lower confidence) as opposed to "monitored" (indicating an assessment with relatively higher confidence) to account for this lower level of confidence.

The Class B(LW) (aquatic life) uses are assessed (monitored) as "fully supported." Information from the IDNR Fisheries Bureau suggests that sedimentation and algae blooms are problems at Mariposa Lake. Results of the ISU lake survey from 2010-2014 show there were no violations of the criterion for ammonia in 15 samples(0%), one violation of the criterion for dissolved oxygen in 15 samples(7%), and 3 violations of the criterion for pH in 15 samples(20%). Based on IDNR's assessment methodology these violations are not significantly greater than 10% of the samples and therefore suggest (fully supported/monitored) of the Class B(LW) uses of Mariposa Lake. Mariposa Lake was assessed as "partially supported" for the 2012 assessment/listing cycle. Based on IDNR’s assessment methodology 2 consecutive assessment/listing cycles without significantly greater than 10% of the samples violating the single-sample maximum criterion are necessary to propose delisting based on pH violations.  There were less than 10% of the samples exceeding the single-sample maximum criterion for both the 2014 and 2016 assessment/listing cycles.   Therefore, the impairment (4a) for pH is suggested for delisting for the 2016 assessment/listing cycle.

Fish consumption uses remain "not assessed" due to the lack of fish contaminant monitoring in this lake.