North Fork Maquoketa River IA 01-NMQ-88
mouth (Jackson Co.) to confluence with Lytle Cr. S8 T85N R2E Jackson Co.
- Assessment Cycle
- 2024
- Release Status
- Pending
- Data Collection Period
- Overall IR Category
- 5 - Water is impaired or threatened and a TMDL is needed.
- Trend
- Unknown
- Created
- 11/1/2023 8:12:47 AM
- Updated
- 12/19/2023 8:02:09 AM
Assessment Summary
The presumptive 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. The Class HH use was assessed as "fully supported" based on water quality monitoring data.
Assessment Explanation
Data Sources: Data
Source Data Source ID Data Type Data Age Site ID Site Name Site Description Iowa DNR 6 WQ CY 2020-2022 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) 2020 Geometric Mean 2021 Geometric Mean 2022 Geometric Mean Violates Annual Geometric Mean? # 2020 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment # 2021 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment # 2022 SSM violations / SSM Violations needed for impairment Violates Annual SSM Significantly >10% Rule? Assessment Type Support Level 10490001 6 8/8/8 321 482 676 YES 5 / 3 6 / 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 8.3 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 Chloride 36 / 3 14 31 21 NA 0 / 0 7 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Dissolved Oxygen 36 / 3 7.9 13.8 10.9 0 NA / NA 7 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 pH 36 / 3 7.7 8.4 8.3 0 NA / NA 7 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Sulfate 36 / 3 12 24 20 0 NA / NA 7 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Temperature 36 / 3 0 26.1 11.6 0 NA / NA 7 NO Mon 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 Ammonia 36 / 3 0.81 0.06 0.02 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Cadmium 20 / 3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Chromium 20 / 3 2.1 0.8 0.7 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Lead 20 / 3 1 0.91 1 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Nickel 20 / 3 3.7 1.1 0.8 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Selenium 18 / 2 2 0.7 0.5 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Silver 20 / 3 1 0.902 1 0 / 0 NO Mon Full 10490001 6 Zinc 20 / 3 2.5 0.8 0.5 0 / 0 NO Mon 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 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 Overall Evaluated Pass Full 1 the sample site was
greater than the calibrated range. Details
about the 2016 fish kill can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/fishkill/Events/916 Site
ID Data Source ID Parameter Name # Samples / # Years Maximum Value Mean Value Median Value Number of Non - Detects Mean Value > Criterion or MCL Assessment Type Support Level 10490001 6 Selenium 18 / 2 2 0.7 0.5 14 NO Mon Full
Presumptive Class A1 - Indicator Bacteria:
Presumptive Class A1 - pH:
Class BWW1 - Binomial Parameters:
Class BWW1 - Toxic Parameters:
Class BWW1 - Biological Sampling:
Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Overall:
Class BWW1 - Fish kill Assessment:
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-F - Toxic Parameters:
Assessment Key Dates
8/7/2020 | Biological Monitoring |
1/9/2018 | Monitoring Start |
12/1/2020 | Monitoring End |
9/7/2016 | Biological Monitoring |
9/19/2016 | Fish Kill |
1/6/2020 | Monitoring Start |
12/5/2022 | Monitoring End |
Methods
140 | Incidence of spills and/or fish kills |
150 | Monitoring data more than 5 years old |
200 | Physical/Chemical Monitoring |
315 | Regional reference site approach |
320 | Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys |
420 | Indicator bacteria monitoring |