Fairfield Reservoir 2 IA 03-SKU-910

Assessment Comments

Insufficient information is available upon which to update assessments. A TMDL for siltation impacts at this lake was developed and approved in 2001.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses and fish consumption uses both remain "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.   The Class C (drinking water) are "not assessed" due to the lack of recent information upon which to base an assessment.   The data used for previous assessments of the Class C uses of this lake ["fully supported/threatened" (not impaired)] are now considered too old (greater than 10 years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions.  

Note:  A TMDL for siltation in this lake, as impairing aquatic life uses, was prepared by IDNR and approved by U.S.  EPA in 2001.  

EXPLANATION:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain assessed (evaluated) as "partially supporting" due to siltation impacts.   Because a TMDL for siltation impacts at this lake was prepared and approved, the Class B(LW) uses remain in Category 4a (TMDL approved) of Iowa’s Integrated Report.   This lake is not part of Iowa’s ambient lake water quality monitoring network of 132 Iowa lakes conducted by Iowa State University and the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory (UHL).  

The Class C (drinking water) uses are considered "not assessed" due to the lack of information upon which to base an assessment.   The previous assessments of the Class C uses at this lake ["fully supported/threatened" (not impaired)] were based on results of sampling conducted by UHL in January 1995.   However, because these data are now considered too old (greater than ten years) to accurately characterize current water quality conditions, these uses are now considered "not assessed."

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