DNR specialists explain stream assessments

Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental specialists Chris Spoelstra and John Warren have personally evaluated many of Iowa's streams and Lee Wagner has written National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for entities discharging into those streams.

The trio explained Use Assessment and Use Attainability Analyses of those streams to area business owners and city officials at the Spencer Public Library Tuesday afternoon.

Use Assessments classify streams into different recreational and aquatic use categories and Attainability Analyses are used to assess factors affecting the uses of streams.

Spoelstra explained that recreational uses are classified as A1 for full immersion, A2 for incidental or accidental contact and A3 for kids' play. Furthermore, E. coli limits include averages of 126 organisms per 100 milliliters for A1 and A3 streams and 630 organisms per 100 milliliters for A2 streams. Maximum limits are no longer used so permits including such limits should be amended, Wagner explained.

Aquatic use classifications range from large streams to general use streams that cannot support aquatic life.

As a result of legislative action in 2006, all 26,000 miles of Iowa's perennial streams were given the highest classifications. Specialists have been assessing streams in hopes of reclassifying them correctly.

"I would say 95 to 98 percent of the streams that may have been general use may be designated use now," Spoelstra said. "Most people should use some sort of disinfection."

The DNR has sent assessments of more than 400 stream segments to the Environmental Protection Agency over the last four years, but only 70 or 80 of those assessments had been approved as of Tuesday, Spoelstra informed.

Assessments are to be approved within 60 days or disapproved within 90 days, but because the EPA requires streams with segments of higher classifications to be broken up, the approval process is taking much longer.

One individual expressed concern about permit-holders bearing all responsibility for water quality in streams.

"At this point there is no regulatory means that we can go out and say this ... is causing the problem and force them to do something about it," Wagner said of nonpermit-holders. "All re-mediations that are done have to be done voluntarily."

Wagner went on to clarify that permits are based on what is discharged, not on the water qualities of the stream, meaning that most assessments should not cause more stringent limits.

Spoelstra added that limits do not have to be met immediately once they are determined.

"You're going to be able to work with your representative. If it's not economically feasible, then they'll work with you."

Streams designated for the highest use level can never be downgraded, but levels can be upgraded. That rule applies to all streams, including man-made drainage ditches.

"Basically, water is water, no matter where it came from," Spoelstra said. "Iowa used to have a standard that said if you produced it, we're going to disallow it... The EPA never liked that. We can't do that anymore."

Individuals were also concerned about discharging upstream from segments with stricter classifications than the rest of the stream.

Wagner explained that entities discharging within 500 feet of that segment will have to comply with those classifications unless they reroute to a different segment.

As for the status of permits, Wagner said numerous permits have expired and need to be reissued. Therefore, permits that are nearing expiration are being reissued before they are expired. Nonetheless, permits can be moved up the list by contacting Adam Schnieders at adam.schnieders@dnr.iowa.gov.

The DNR plans to host public hearings on stream assessments as soon as next month.