North Fork Maquoketa River IA 01-NMQ-88
mouth (Jackson Co.) to confluence with Lytle Cr. S8 T85N R2E Jackson Co.
- Assessment Cycle
- 2022
- Release Status
- Final
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 12/21/2021 12:31:47 PM
- Updated
- 1/7/2022 3:29:32 PM
Assessment Summary
The Class A1 use was assessed as "not supported" due to levels of indicator bacteria (E. coli) that exceed state water quality criteria. The Class BWW1 use was assessed as "not supported" due to a fish kill investigation. All other designated uses were "not assessed."
Assessment Explanation
Data Sources: Data Source Data Source ID Data Type Data Age Site ID Site Name Site Description Iowa DNR 6 WQ CY 2018-2020 10490001 North Fork Maquoketa River near Hurstville
Iowa DNR 6 BIO See Below 282 North
Fork Maquoketa River Maquoketa/Hurtsville Site ID Data Source ID # Samples per Year (2018/ 2019/2020) 2018 Geometric Mean 2019 Geometric Mean 2020 Geometric Mean Violates Annual Geometric Mean? # 2018 SSM violations / SSM Violations
needed for impairment # 2019 SSM violations / SSM Violations
needed for impairment # 2020 SSM violations / SSM Violations
needed for impairment Violates Annual SSM Significantly >10%
Rule? Assessment Type Support Level 10490001 6 7/7/8 689 1118 321 YES 5 / 3 5 / 3 5 / 3 YES Monitored Not 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 10490001 6 36 / 3 7.2 8.4 8.1 0 7 NO Monitored Full 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 10490001 6 Ammonia 36 / 3 0.025 1.2 0.1 NA 0 / 0 7 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Chloride 36 / 3 7.4 24 19.2 NA 0 / 0 7 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Dissolved Oxygen 36 / 3 6.6 14.2 10.3 0 NA / NA 7 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 pH 36 / 3 7.2 8.4 8.1 0 NA / NA 7 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Sulfate 36 / 3 7.4 25 17.9 0 NA / NA 7 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Temperature 36 / 3 0 26.1 11.4 0 NA / NA 7 NO Monitored Full 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 10490001 6 Aluminum 14 / 3 31 4.26 0.92 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Arsenic 13 / 3 1.5 0.9 0.8 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Cadmium 13 / 3 0.08 0.03 0.02 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Chromium 13 / 3 1.7 1.2 1.2 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Lead 13 / 3 0.62 0.17 0.12 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Nickel 13 / 3 3.9 2.7 2.5 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Silver 13 / 3 0.025 0.025 0.025 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full 10490001 6 Zinc 13 / 3 10 2.76 2 0 / 0 NO Monitored Full Site ID Date Drainage Area (mi2) Ecoregion Major Drainage BM Sample Gear BMIBI score BMIBI Class 47f BMIBI BIT BMIBI Pass/ Fail 282 8/7/20 590 47f MS Floating Art Sub 61 Good 51 Pass 282 9/7/16 590 47f MS Floating Art Sub 67 Good 51 Pass Overall: Community Assessment Type Assessment Result Support Level IR Category Reason Benthic
Macroinvertebrates Evaluated Pass (2/2) Full Assessment was evaluated
because the drainage area of the sample site Overall Evaluated Pass Full 1 was greater than the
calibrated range. Class BWW1 - Fish kill Assessment:
Details about the 2016 fish kill can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/916
Presumptive Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria:
Class A - pH:
Class BWW1 - Conventional Parameters:
Class BWW1 - Toxic Parameters:
Class
BWW1 - Biological Sampling:
Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
The Class BWW1 aquatic life use assessment based on the 2016 fish kill placed this
segment in Category 5b. The fish kill was caused by a “pollutant” or was
suspected to be caused by a “pollutant”; therefore, the Class BWW1 use was
considered impaired. Because the source of the pollutant was not identified
and/or the enforcement actions taken against the responsible party have not
been resolved, the Class BWW1 use was placed in Category 5b. Due to uncertainty
regarding the recovery of the aquatic life following the fish kill, any
existing fish kill 5b impairment will remain in Category 5b until more recent
sampling has shown recovery of the aquatic community or the responsible party
has paid restitution.
Class BWW1 - Nutrient Impact Assessment:
Monitoring data collected from the DNR/SHL ambient fixed station near
Hurtsville (10490001) during the 2010-2014 data assessment period were
sufficient to complete a Nutrient Impact Assessment (NIA). Data analysis
methods and screening benchmark values for nutrient stressor and response
parameters described in the DNR’s 2016 NIA methodology were used to examine for
nutrient impacts often associated with low biotic index scores and violations
of dissolved oxygen (DO) criteria. Nutrient stressor: The median concentration
of total phosphorus (TP) was 0.22 mg/L among samples collected during the June
15- October 15 index period. The TP benchmark (0.10 mg/L) was exceeded in 18 of
20 samples. The percentage exceeding (90%) was greater than (failing) the 50%
threshold with high statistical confidence (> 90%). Nutrient response
parameter: The median concentration of algal chlorophyll A suspended in water
(WCHLA) was 11 ug/L. The WCHLA benchmark (20 ug/L) was exceeded in 2 of 20
samples. The percentage exceeding (10%) was less than (passing) the 50%
threshold with high statistical confidence (> 90%). The median rating of
filamentous algae coverage (FLMA) on hard substrates was 0 (absent). The FLMA
benchmark (3; 50%-75%) was exceeded in 0 of 8 observations. The percentage
exceeding (0%) was less than (passing) the 50% threshold with high statistical
confidence (> 90%).
The results of this “evaluated” assessment indicate the presence of elevated
levels of the nutrient stressor parameter (TP) and low levels of the nutrient
response parameters, WCHLA and FLMA. This combination of results is interpreted
as representing a moderate risk of aquatic life use impairment due to nutrient
enrichment. Continuous monitoring data were not available to examine for
violations of DO criteria; however, the benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMIBI)
results described suggest full attainment of aquatic life uses. Based on the
assessed risk level, the stream segment is considered a moderate priority for
follow-up nutrient impact monitoring.
Class HH - No Data
Assessment Key Dates
8/7/2020 | Biological Monitoring |
1/9/2018 | Fixed Monitoring Start Date |
12/1/2020 | Fixed Monitoring End Date |
9/7/2016 | Biological Monitoring |
9/19/2016 | Fish Kill |
Methods
120 | Surveys of fish and game biologists/other professionals |
140 | Incidence of spills and/or fish kills |
150 | Monitoring data more than 5 years old |
230 | Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants) |
315 | Regional reference site approach |
320 | Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys |
420 | Indicator bacteria monitoring |