Iowa DNR
ADBNet

Water Quality Assessments

Impaired Waters List

South Skunk River IA 03-SSK-927

from the Highway 63 bridge north of Oskaloosa (S25 T76N R16W Mahaska Co.) to confluence with Elk Cr. in NE 1/4 S19 T77N R17W Mahaska Co.

Assessment Cycle
1996
Result Period
1992 - 1994
Designations
Assessment Type
Monitored
Integrated Report
Category 0
Legacy ADBCode
IA 03-SSK-0010_3
Overall Use Support
Partial
Aquatic Life Use Support
Partial
Fish Consumption
Not assessed
Drinking Water
Fully
Documentation
Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of (1) IDNR ambient monthly monitoring near Oskaloosa.

Basis for Assessment

Used results from the DNR quarterly water quality monitoring station at the Hwy 63 brdige N of Oskaloosa, and information from Harlan et al.  (1987: 10) to assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as PS and the Class C drinking water uses as FS.   Although results of two years of quarterly monitoring show no violations of either Class B(WW) or Class C water quality criteria, information from Harlan et al.  (1987) suggest that extensive channelization has degraded the quality of the aquatic habitat such that fishing success depends on favorable water conditions.   Thus, assess support of the Class B(WW) aquatic life uses as PS due to impacts of extensive channelization and the Class C drinking water uses as FS due to no violations of Class C water quality criteria for nitrate and toxic metals (no pesticide monitoring conducted).

Monitoring and Methods
Assessment Key Dates
Methods
230 Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Monitoring Levels
Biological 0
Habitat 0
Physical Chemistry 3
Toxic 0
Pathogen Indicators 0
Other Health Indicators 0
Other Aquatic Life Indicators 0
# of Bio Sites 0
BioIntegrity N/A