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Assessment Data for the State of Iowa Year 2002

National Assessment Database
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Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress, 2002 Reporting Cycle

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Previous National Water Quality Reports

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Impaired Water Information
2002 303(d) List Report

Other Water Assessment Information
The most current report available for this state is 2008.
Data are also available for these years: 2004 2006


State of Iowa websites:

State 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report(s)
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Total Assessed Waters for the State of Iowa

 Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 6,871.19 86,090.00 .00 .00 .00 36,520.00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in IA 71,665.00 202,216.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable 125,155.00 Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 9.59 42.57 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable 29.18 Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of Iowa by Watershed

 Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
APPLE-PLUM 90.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 526.00 .00 .00
BEAR-WYACONDA 62.88 110.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BIG PAPILLION-MOSQUITO 118.95 1,854.00 .00 .00 .00 106.00 .00 .00
BLACKBIRD-SOLDIER 141.63 462.00 .00 .00 .00 4,316.00 .00 .00
BLUE EARTH .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 1,243.00 .00 .00
BOONE 79.62 302.00 .00 .00 .00 1,507.00 .00 .00
BOYER 109.43 79.00 .00 .00 .00 9.00 .00 .00
COON-YELLOW 119.13 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPERAS-DUCK 98.30 56.00 .00 .00 .00 3,730.00 .00 .00
EAST FORK DES MOINES 167.51 2,419.00 .00 .00 .00 280.00 .00 .00
EAST NISHNABOTNA 108.33 287.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLINT-HENDERSON 38.83 18.00 .00 .00 .00 55.00 .00 .00
FLOYD 90.06 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
GRANT-LITTLE MAQUOKETA 94.94 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
KEG-WEEPING WATER 64.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 268.00 .00 .00
LAKE RED ROCK 308.13 20,623.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LITTLE SIOUX 431.50 14,579.00 .00 .00 .00 5,266.00 .00 .00
LOWER BIG SIOUX 117.86 63.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER CEDAR 218.93 .00 .00 .00 .00 310.00 .00 .00
LOWER DES MOINES 225.18 1,203.00 .00 .00 .00 33.00 .00 .00
LOWER IOWA 158.88 112.00 .00 .00 .00 725.00 .00 .00
LOWER WAPSIPINICON 132.26 .00 .00 .00 .00 245.00 .00 .00
MAPLE 128.74 72.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAQUOKETA 295.04 59.00 .00 .00 .00 447.00 .00 .00
MIDDLE CEDAR 260.99 757.00 .00 .00 .00 150.00 .00 .00
MIDDLE DES MOINES 302.16 7,716.00 .00 .00 .00 268.00 .00 .00
MIDDLE IOWA 115.25 5,945.00 .00 .00 .00 4,221.00 .00 .00
MONONA-HARRISON DITCH 57.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 70.00 .00 .00
NISHNABOTNA 5.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NODAWAY 18.61 744.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NORTH RACCOON 267.83 4,610.00 .00 .00 .00 1,724.00 .00 .00
NORTH SKUNK 122.21 918.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ONE HUNDRED AND TWO 7.60 138.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PLATTE 23.47 411.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ROCK 76.14 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SHELL ROCK 124.94 316.00 .00 .00 .00 1,109.00 .00 .00
SKUNK 99.59 701.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH RACCOON 128.37 161.00 .00 .00 .00 270.00 .00 .00
SOUTH SKUNK 192.95 429.00 .00 .00 .00 240.00 .00 .00
TARKIO-WOLF 18.17 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
THOMPSON 48.85 2,432.00 .00 .00 .00 4.00 .00 .00
TURKEY 312.01 156.00 .00 .00 .00 62.00 .00 .00
UPPER CEDAR 138.72 30.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CHARITON 135.18 11,359.00 .00 .00 .00 498.00 .00 .00
UPPER DES MOINES 74.97 1,992.00 .00 .00 .00 2,164.00 .00 .00
UPPER GRAND 4.53 190.00 .00 .00 .00 60.00 .00 .00
UPPER IOWA 145.21 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER IOWA 177.14 408.00 .00 .00 .00 1,207.00 .00 .00
UPPER WAPSIPINICON 285.35 40.00 .00 .00 .00 980.00 .00 .00
WEST FORK CEDAR 136.83 100.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WEST NISHNABOTNA 142.69 219.00 .00 .00 .00 1,050.00 .00 .00
WEST NODAWAY 46.15 222.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
WINNEBAGO 105.44 3,684.00 .00 .00 .00 1,250.00 .00 .00
Name Not Reported 8.68 114.00 .00 .00 .00 2,127.00 .00 .00

Iowa Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 6,345.20 27.03 37.84 35.13 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 815.57 44.14 1.04 54.82 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 185.57 28.04 19.09 52.87 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 1,446.47 95.22 4.78 .00 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 6,871.19 miles of rivers and streams, or 9.59% of 71,665.00 total miles.

Iowa Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 1,938.18 28.21
Threatened 2,318.15 33.74
Impaired 2,614.86 38.06
Total Miles Assessed 6,871.19 100.00

Iowa Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 2,167.34
2 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 1,074.62
3 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 948.50
4 NUTRIENTS 718.73
5 AMMONIA (UNIONIZED) - TOXIN 661.89
6 PATHOGENS 488.12
7 FLOW ALTERATION 302.65
8 CAUSE UNKNOWN 236.08
9 PESTICIDES 127.35
10 NITRATES 116.77

Iowa Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 1,414.28
2 CHANNELIZATION 1,386.01
3 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 1,380.43
4 SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,211.06
5 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 989.84
6 LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 649.87
7 PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN 558.16
8 HYDROMODIFICATION 520.83
9 LOSS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT 478.04
10 INTENSIVE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS 329.78

Iowa Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 84,624.00 25.76 58.97 15.27 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 81,520.00 47.03 21.32 31.65 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 22,111.00 39.58 58.17 2.26 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 53,977.00 63.83 35.20 .97 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 86,090.00 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 42.57% of 202,216.00 total acres.

Iowa Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 2,799.00 3.25
Threatened 54,870.00 63.74
Impaired 28,421.00 33.01
Total Acres Assessed 86,090.00 100.00

Iowa Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 NUTRIENTS 40,395.00
2 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 25,553.00
3 SUSPENDED ALGAE 23,139.00
4 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 20,683.00
5 PESTICIDES 19,209.00
6 TURBIDITY 12,924.00
7 ATRAZINE 12,813.00
8 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 11,764.00
9 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 8,108.00
10 PATHOGENS 5,703.00

Iowa Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 45,248.00
2 AGRICULTURE 40,375.00
3 NATURAL SOURCES 36,629.00
4 CHANGES IN ORDINARY STRATIFICATION AND BOTTOM WATER HYPOXIA/ANOXIA 30,187.00
5 SEDIMENT RESUSPENSION 20,499.00
6 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 5,562.00
7 CROP PRODUCTION (CROP LAND OR DRY LAND) 2,312.00
8 NON-IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION 983.00
9 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 957.00
10 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 957.00

Iowa Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Wetlands

 Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 36,520.00 5.20 37.32 57.48 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 36,520.00 acres of wetlands, or 29.18% of 125,155.00 total acres.

Iowa Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Wetlands

 Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 1,900.00 5.20
Threatened 13,630.00 37.32
Impaired 20,990.00 57.48
Total Acres Assessed 36,520.00 100.00

Iowa Top Causes of Impairments
for Wetlands

 Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 24,726.00
2 NUTRIENTS 12,917.00
3 FLOW ALTERATION 12,673.00
4 NON-NATIVE FISH/SHELLFISH/ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES 4,492.00
5 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 940.00
6 SUSPENDED ALGAE 702.00
7 TURBIDITY 600.00
8 OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 200.00
9 NITROGEN, AMMONIA (TOTAL AMMONIA) 140.00
10 PESTICIDES 59.00

Iowa Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Wetlands

 Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 29,929.00
2 NATURAL SOURCES 28,816.00
3 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 14,037.00
4 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 13,962.00
5 HYDROMODIFICATION 13,161.00
6 CROP PRODUCTION (CROP LAND OR DRY LAND) 7,995.00
7 NON-IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION 6,672.00
8 FLOW ALTERATIONS FROM WATER DIVERSIONS 4,081.00
9 SOURCE UNKNOWN 3,892.00
10 INTENSIVE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS 2,125.00

Iowa

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Squar Miles)
ARSENIC 48.68 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CAUSE UNKNOWN 236.08 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 25.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 28.22 20,683.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS 31.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NITRATES 116.77 90.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PATHOGENS 488.12 5,703.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SUSPENDED ALGAE .00 23,139.00 .00 .00 .00 702.00 .00 .00
UNKNOWN TOXICITY 65.35 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AMMONIA (UNIONIZED) - TOXIN 661.89 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TEMPERATURE, WATER 4.12 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 948.50 25,553.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS .00 315.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATRAZINE 13.99 12,813.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE FISH/SHELLFISH/ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES .00 5,342.00 .00 .00 .00 4,492.00 .00 .00
CHLORINE 2.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OIL AND GREASE 11.52 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATION 302.65 .00 .00 .00 .00 12,673.00 .00 .00
NONPRIORITY ORGANICS 5.46 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 718.73 40,395.00 .00 .00 .00 12,917.00 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 1,074.62 8,108.00 .00 .00 .00 24,726.00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 4.30 11,764.00 .00 .00 .00 940.00 .00 .00
PH 46.04 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 82.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TURBIDITY 69.75 12,924.00 .00 .00 .00 600.00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 127.35 19,209.00 .00 .00 .00 59.00 .00 .00
OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 2,167.34 219.00 .00 .00 .00 200.00 .00 .00
NITROGEN, AMMONIA (TOTAL AMMONIA) 63.43 .00 .00 .00 .00 140.00 .00 .00

Iowa

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles)
OTHER 96.84 812.00 .00 .00 .00 15.00 .00 .00
LAND DISPOSAL 2.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER URBAN RUNOFF .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 44.00 .00 .00
RESOURCE EXTRACTION 24.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 41.39 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION .00 983.00 .00 .00 .00 6,672.00 .00 .00
HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 1,380.43 957.00 .00 .00 .00 14,037.00 .00 .00
RANGELAND (UNMANAGED PASTURE) GRAZING 25.85 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPSTREAM IMPOUNDMENTS (E.G., PL-566 NRCS STRUCTURES) 14.31 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONSTRUCTION .00 172.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOSS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT 478.04 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SURFACE MINING 21.69 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 1,423.00 .00 .00
INTENSIVE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS 329.78 .00 .00 .00 .00 2,125.00 .00 .00
CROP PRODUCTION (CROP LAND OR DRY LAND) 258.81 2,312.00 .00 .00 .00 7,995.00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 40.47 5,562.00 .00 .00 .00 291.00 .00 .00
STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 989.84 957.00 .00 .00 .00 13,962.00 .00 .00
AGRICULTURE 1,414.28 40,375.00 .00 .00 .00 29,929.00 .00 .00
CHANNELIZATION 1,386.01 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATIONS FROM WATER DIVERSIONS 317.92 .00 .00 .00 .00 4,081.00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN AND/OR UPLAND 35.78 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHANGES IN ORDINARY STRATIFICATION AND BOTTOM WATER HYPOXIA/ANOXIA .00 30,187.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NATURAL SOURCES 208.21 36,629.00 .00 .00 .00 28,816.00 .00 .00
SEDIMENT RESUSPENSION .00 20,499.00 .00 .00 .00 600.00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN 558.16 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 230.96 193.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 649.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SPILLS FROM TRUCKS OR TRAINS 136.51 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DAM CONSTRUCTION (OTHER THAN UPSTREAM FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS) 14.53 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,211.06 45,248.00 .00 .00 .00 3,892.00 .00 .00
HYDROMODIFICATION 520.83 288.00 .00 .00 .00 13,161.00 .00 .00
RCRA HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES 2.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 46.75 .00 .00 .00 .00 140.00 .00 .00
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