Little Sioux River on impaired waters list

(Photo by Russ Mitchell) The Little Sioux River is one of 200 rivers, lakes and streams added to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources impaired waters list. Bacteria levels are a concern in the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan rivers. [Order this photo]

Bacteria levels in the Little Sioux River and Ocheyedan River placed both waterways on the impaired list, according to Jeff Berckes of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

John Olson, another water quality assessment specialist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said the draft 2008 list of impaired waters identifies a total of 445 water bodies in need of water-quality improvement plans.

While another 96 water bodies remain impaired, they aren't included on the list because an improvement plan for that water body has been completed, or one isn't necessary.

Olson said the higher number on this year's draft list doesn't necessarily mean an increase of pollution, but instead could be a result of increased water and biological monitoring.

"The majority of impairments in Iowa are not severe," Olson said. "But they do indicate that our waters are not as good as they could or should be for Iowa's aquatic life and for Iowans to swim in, to play in and use as a source for drinking water."

He said the state's water quality standards have changed and now presume that all perennial streams and rivers in Iowa should be protected for recreation such as swimming.

"It's impaired for bacteria -- which isn't uncommon, given the new standards and parameters that they've been measuring for -- a lot of the new impairments in the last update have been for bacteria," Berckes said of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers. It's not that bacteria just became a new problem. We just started monitoring for it."

Iowa officials update the list every two years to include impaired water bodies that don't meet state quality standards, then the list is submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet requirements under the federal Clean Water Act.

Stoney Creek, which feeds into the Little Sioux west of Spencer and Willow Creek, which merges with the river near Greenville, made the impairment list for biological reasons, meaning the insect and fish counts don't match numbers found in a more healthy stream. Two lakes -- Trumbull, Lost Island -- remain on the list for algae levels and turbidity.

Berckes said five staff members do the water improvement plan analysis for the 446 impaired water bodies in Iowa. The reports are time and money intensive -- only 10-15 water quality improvement plans are possible each year.

"Basically, what we do is: We try to see where we can make the most difference and we combine that analysis with where there is interest from local communities," Berckes said. "That's really the main driver -- where in Iowa are there people who really want to change their lake or stream and really want to get involved and improve it."

The DNR is accepting public comments on the 2008 draft list through Feb. 5.