Iowa DNR
Iowa DNR
ADBNet
Water Quality Assessments
Impaired Waters List

Mariposa Lake IA 03-NSK-867

Jasper County S32T81NR18W 6 mi. NE of Newton.

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 2:27:46 PM
Updated
2/17/2022 10:12:35 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
Agriculture
Source Confidence
Moderate
Cycle Added
1998
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
High
Status
Continuing
Source
Agriculture
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
Agriculture
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 aesthetically objectionable conditions caused by poor water transparency and nuisance algae blooms. The Class BLW use was assessed as “fully supported.” Sedimentation also remains a concern at this lake. All other designated uses were “not assessed.” Note: A TMDL for algae and turbidity at Mariposa Lake was prepared by DNR 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 current assessment/listing cycle (algal growth and turbidity) are addressed by the TMDL, this waterbody remains in IR Category 4a.

Assessment Explanation

Data Sources:

Data Source

Data Source ID

Data Type

Data Age

Site ID

Site Name

Site Description

Iowa DNR

6

WQ

CY 2016-2020

22500002

Mariposa 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

22500002

6

8 / 3

8.1

9.2

8.6

2

3

NO

Evaluated

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

22500002

6

Chlorophyll a TSI

8 / 3

36

70

55

NO

Evaluated

Full

22500002

6

Secchi TSI

8 / 3

47

73

62

NO

Evaluated

Full

22500002

6

Total Phosphorus TSI

8 / 3

46

85

74

NA

NA

NA

22500002

6

Inorganic suspended solids

8 / 3

0.3

8

4.4

NA

NA

NA

Although the index value for Chlorophyll a was below the impairment trigger of 65 for this assessment cycle, the Class A1 use of Mariposa 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, Mariposa Lake will remain listed as "not supported" for the 2022 assessment/listing cycle.

Although the index value for Secchi is below the impairment trigger of 65 for this assessment cycle, the Class A1 use of Mariposa Lake remains "not supported" due to aesthetically objectionable conditions. Based on DNR's methodology, the median TSI value for Secchi 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, Mariposa 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

22500002

6

Ammonia

8 / 3

0.004

0.182

0.06

NA

0 / 0

3

NO

Evaluated

Full

22500002

6

Dissolved Oxygen

8 / 3

6.6

13.5

9.6

0

NA / NA

3

NO

Evaluated

Full

22500002

6

pH

8 / 3

8.1

9.2

8.6

2

NA / NA

3

NO

Evaluated

Full

22500002

6

Temperature

8 / 3

19.1

28.7

24

0

NA / NA

3

NO

Evaluated

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

22500002

6

4

11.70

98.4%

3.95

16.2%

NO

Evaluated

NA

Class HH: No Data

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
6/20/2016
Non-fixed Monitoring Start Date
9/14/2020
Non-fixed Monitoring End Date
12/14/2004
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)