Following is a list of activities and accomplishments of the DNR monitoring program during these  two years.

Water Monitoring Plan:
Water Monitoring Plan 2000 was developed between July, 1999 and January, 2000 through the efforts of IDNR staff and the assistance of people from 47 different Iowa organizations including academic and government professionals and representatives of stakeholder groups. The plan establishes a mission, goals, and development principles, and outlines $6.5 million in needed monitoring activities. Although it remains in draft form, the plan is available at www.igsb.uiowa.edu/water.

Data Collection:
Iowa Interior Streams: Chemical/Physical Monitoring
• Since 1986, the University Hygienic Laboratory has contracted with DNR to monitor 16 stations on a monthly basis. An additional 44 stations are included on a rotating basis (11 per year) and monitored quarterly. During FY00, each of these 60 stations was monitored monthly, providing vastly improved spatial and temporal coverage for the state. Additionally, for the first time, common herbicides tested for monthly at all stations, bacteria indicators were monitored throughout the year, and all priority pollutants were analyzed twice (spring and fall samples). Another change: samples were collected under all flow conditions rather than avoiding runoff conditions as had previously been the protocol. During FY01, the number of monthly monitoring stations was adjusted to 62, with seven of the 62 stations (1 in each ecological region) sampled both monthly and during runoff events. This network should enable better interpretation of the data including: regional water quality assessments, estimates of nutrient losses to the Mississippi and Missouri River, and trend analysis through time.
• Twenty-three monitoring sites have been established upstream and downstream of Iowa’s larger cities (10 cities). During FY00, these sites were monitored twice (fall and spring). All priority pollutants were monitored at these sites in FY00. The frequency of monitoring for these sites increased to monthly during FY01. Testing includes a variety of synthetic compounds and metals, and these sites are anticipated to be the locations of special monitoring for compounds such as pharmaceuticals in the future. This monitoring measures the impact of urban land use on our Iowa rivers.

Iowa Interior Streams: Biological Monitoring:
• 109 reference sites (some of Iowa’s best stream environments) located throughout the state have been established as benchmarks for benthic macroinvertebrates (bottom-dwelling organisms) and fish populations. About 20 of these sites are revisited annually to evaluate changes in populations, biological variability, and trends. These sites provide a context to assess biological impairment at other stream sites.
• Beginning in 1999, the 16 long-term chemical monitoring sites (see above) are being monitored for biological parameters. This monitoring will allow researchers to establish relationships between chemical and biological parameters and will help with the determination of long-term trends.
• Biological monitoring techniques are being employed in about 40 water bodies annually to assess potential stream impairment.
• Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate indices of biological integrity (F-IBI and BM-IBI) have been proposed for Iowa.
• Much of the biological monitoring data obtained by the DNR/UHL between 1994 and 1998 now in a database called EDAS. EDAS is a biologic database constructed by TetraTech on a Microsoft Access database platform. TetraTech migrated the biological data under a contract with DNR. Training is planned for April, 2001 so that Iowa monitoring personnel can directly enter data and utilize the database functions more effectively. It is anticipated that all Iowa biologic data will go into EDAS, although it may eventually be moved to STORET.
• Kurt Pontasch (UNI) is evaluating insecticide impacts on Iowa benthic macroinvertebrates. Insecticides are occasionally detected in Iowa streams, but not often. Cholinesterase suppression in Isonychia bicolor (a common mayfly) is being considered as an indirect method for determining insecticide impact on Iowa streams. Cholinesterase suppression occurs quickly upon exposure, is apparently proportional to dose, and continues for up to 30 days following exposure. This research may lead to a more complete understanding of the occurrence of insecticides in streams and their impact on our aquatic environment.

Border Rivers:
• No significant activities by the DNR water monitoring program. However, there does seem to be the potential for influencing federal agencies and/or cooperating with other states in developing improved monitoring.

Iowa Lakes:
• Iowa lakes were studied twice in the past by Iowa State University (Bachmann), once in the late 1970s and again in the early 1990s. The ambient monitoring program contracted with ISU (Downing), again, and is expanding on the earlier studies. Previously unstudied lakes are included and each of the 132 lakes is being monitored 3 times per year for five consecutive years. This study design will document the yearly variability among lakes as well as the variability within a particular lake. The lake monitoring places an increased emphasis on algae and phytoplankton composition. For the first time, sediment and water samples will be analyzed for insecticides, herbicides, PCBs, and metals.
• Secchi depth measurements will be taken (biweekly) for 45 Iowa lakes by the Fisheries Bureau in conjunction with some Parks Division personnel.
• The Non-Point Source Program of EPD is sponsoring bathymetric surveys (lake bed) of all 132 lakes in conjunction with sediment thickness mapping by sonar. This work is expected to be contracted through ISU (Downing) and be completed in 4 years.
• The Fisheries Bureau has proposed a fish census for all 132 lakes. The impetus for this survey is the availability (for the first time) of important water quality data, which should help biologists interpret the fish census data.

Groundwater Monitoring:
• Since 1982, the Iowa DNR, U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Iowa Hygienic Lab have conducted the Iowa groundwater quality monitoring program. A total of 90 municipal wells are monitored on a rotational basis for common ions, nutrients, herbicides, metals, semi-volatile compounds, and radionuclides.
• Since 1982, the Iowa DNR and the U.S. Geological Survey have conducted the Iowa groundwater level network. The current groundwater level network includes the measurement of water levels at 175 wells completed in the principal bedrock and surficial aquifers that supply groundwater to numerous users throughout the state.
• During FY01, new monitoring wells will be drilled to begin the development of a statewide network of wells drawing from vulnerable aquifers. The first well nest is scheduled for Hamilton County. The site will be rock cored, packer tested for aquifer properties, and logged with geophysical equipment, before up to four wells are constructed into different strata.
• Also in FY01, initial radiometric dating of well water is being conducted (eventually all 90 municipal wells and newly drilled monitoring wells will be age-dated). Wells are also being monitored annually for various natural constituents, contaminant parameters, and water level measurements.

IDNR Beaches:
• First monitoring of all state-owned beaches for indicator bacteria (Fecal Coliform, Enterococci, E. coli) from May – September 2000. Bacteria levels at most of the beaches were safe, but several beaches exceeded EPA guidelines for one or more indicator bacterial types. Two beaches (Beeds and Backbone) were closed for a period of time because bacteria levels exceeded guidelines for multiple indicator bacteria (Backbone Beach was closed from June 29 – July 21; Beeds Beach was closed the week of July 17).
• Assistance was provided to DNR Parks personnel through follow-up monitoring to identify sources of elevated bacteria at Backbone.
• Beach data was made available weekly on the DNR web site.
• Results from the beach monitoring provide DNR Parks Management with data to evaluate risk associated with swimming at state beaches.
• DNR has initiated discussion of a policy regarding closure of state-owned beaches due to elevated bacteria levels.

Wetlands:
• No activities.

Precipitation:
• No significant activities.

Citizen Volunteer Monitoring (IOWATER):
• 524 citizens from 88 Iowa counties were trained during 18 Level 1 workshops during 2000.
• Volunteers are trained to identify the benthic or bottom-dwelling organisms (benthic macroinvertebrates) that live in streams, to chemically test the water, and to evaluate the stream habitat.
• More than 350 sites are monitored for physical, chemical, biological or habitat parameters.
• IOWATER was the first in the nation to offer a Web-based database for its citizen volunteers. The password-protected database allows trained volunteers to register sites and directly enter data, while also offering public access to all IOWATER data. Innovative mapping applications display sites on screen and link to water-quality data.
• IOWATER testing methods are being assessed for credibility (accuracy and precision). Initial comparisons of the data to professionally collected data show confidence in IOWATER results and methods.
• DNR staff is developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan for IOWATER (QAPP - a written document that outlines the procedures a monitoring project will use to ensure that the data volunteers collect is of high quality).
• IOWATER has produced trained and dedicated volunteers who are actively participating in local watershed projects.
• Level 2 training methods are being developed for FY01. Level 2 will include training modules for soil testing, macroinvertebrate indexing, and standing waters (lakes, ponds, and wetlands). Additional parameters for Level 2 include field tests for ammonia, bacteria, and chloride.
• IOWATER web site developed, including on-line database (www.iowater.net).

STORET Database/IOWATER Database:
• An Oracle Server was purchased and installed to manage Iowa’s STORET database. Site information is entered for ambient monitoring sites; water quality data from October, 1999 through January, 2001 for the DNR/UHL stream sites is now in Iowa STORET. Web-based access is being tested and is anticipated for April 30, 2001.
• Coordination of data from other monitoring sources (i.e. municipalities, state and federal agencies, and utilities) into STORET providing “one-stop shopping” for Iowa’s water quality information is under development.
• A web-based database was developed for IOWATER volunteer monitors to register monitoring sites, submit data, and access data from other monitors across Iowa. Over 370 sites in 53 counties have been registered to date and more than 1,000 data records have been submitted. This site includes utilization of Web mapping capabilities.

Data Coordination:
• DNR is working with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on monitoring Iowa reservoirs. Several years of flat-line budgeting by the Corps had reduced the number of parameters and threatened the long-term record at stations associated with Coralville, Red Rock, and Saylorville reservoirs. DNR is providing money to maintain the sites and the water quality parameters measured. These COE sites are among the longest, continuous records of water quality, and thus constitute the most important records available. This work is conducted by contract from COE to ISU and the UI.
• DNR is coordinating with the U.S. Geological Survey to assist with its National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) study. DNR is supporting monitoring at several stations that USGS cannot support during their intermittent ‘low-intensity’ phases of the program.
• DNR is assisting cities and water utilities to get their monitoring data into STORET.
• The ambient water monitoring program is cooperating with DNR Fisheries to supplement the lake monitoring program by mapping the thickness of sediment accumulation in lakes and conducting special fish inventories.

Data Interpretation:
• Preliminary analysis of historical data from the 16 long-term stations (1986-1999) suggests that regional differences are apparent for important water quality parameters including nutrients.
• Nitrate concentrations were generally low in Iowa streams and rivers during 2000 because of drought-like conditions. Nitrate concentrations were nearly as low as those experienced during the drought years of 1988 and 1989.
• Assessment of historic nitrate information in relation to current levels shows that nitrate loads and concentrations appear considerably higher in the period 1978-1998 compared with the period 1945-1951 on the Cedar and Iowa rivers and also compared to 1945 levels on Des Moines River.

Emerging Issues:
• Recent studies indicate that the break-down products of some pesticides are detected more frequently and at higher concentrations than the parent compounds. Until now, difficult and expensive analytical procedures have not allowed for a comprehensive assessment of these compounds in Iowa’s water resources. In FY00, thirty of the monthly stream sites were monitored for the pesticide degradates of alachlor, acetochlor, and metolachlor, which have been three of the more commonly used herbicides in Iowa. Additionally, these compounds were monitored in wells developed in a vulnerable groundwater system located in Floyd and Mitchell counties.
• In FY00, the new herbicide isoxaflutole (Balance) was analyzed in samples from all 60 sites, as well as monitored on a daily basis at three eastern Iowa sites. The Iowa data on isoxaflutole is the most extensive in the US, and EPA is utilizing this in its pesticide registration process.
• During FY01, monitoring will begin to look at a variety of prescription and non-prescription drugs, human and veterinary antibiotics, hormones, and sterols at upstream/downstream city sites.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program:
• Ambient monitoring program staff assists the TMDL program by providing technical expertise on appropriate water monitoring design and data management. In addition, staff has coordinated volunteers to assist with the development of TMDL baseline data through targeted watershed sampling efforts.

Public Outreach:
• Water Monitoring Plan was developed in cooperation with public and professional stakeholder groups.
• First Annual Water Monitoring Conference is scheduled for March 29, 2001, at Scheman Center at Iowa State University.
• Technical and non-technical Fact Sheets are being developed to highlight various elements of the monitoring program.
• The Iowa Citizen Monitor (a quarterly newsletter of IOWATER) provides on-going communication with IOWATER trained monitors and other interested individuals.
• Staff have made numerous public presentations at the local, state, and national level on the ambient monitoring program and IOWATER.
• Eighteen IOWATER Level 1 workshops were held in 2000. Twelve IOWATER Level 1 workshops, four IOWATER Level 2 workshops, and twelve Level 2 modules will be held in 2001.

Water Monitoring Program Web Site (www.igsb.uiowa.edu/water):
• Web site describes ambient monitoring program elements, shows sampling locations, and their respective watershed and land use characteristics. The web site also contains summary data graphs from the 16 long-term stream stations and current data from the ambient monitoring network.