Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SOCGESS STORY
Conservation Practices and In-Lake Work Improve Lake Binder
Waterbody Improved
Erosion from cropland and pastureland contributed sediment
to Iowa's Lake Binder, significantly degrading the lake's water
quality and reducing its available storage capacity for raw drinking water. As a result, the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) added Lake Binder to the state's 1998 Clean Water Act
(CWA) section 303(d) list of impaired waters for siltation. Agricultural landowners implemented
numerous conservation practices, and the DNR performed in-lake restoration work. Water quality
improved, prompting DNR to remove the lake from the state's list of impaired waters in 2012.
Problem
Lake Binder is an 80-acre impoundment in Iowa's
Nodaway River Basin (Figure 1). Created in 1942,
the lake provides drinking water for the nearby city
of Corning. Over the years, erosion of pastureland,
cropland and lake shoreline areas contributed
sediment to the lake, decreasing water clarity and
reducing the lake's storage capacity.
During Iowa's 1996 CWA section 305(b) water
quality assessment, the DNR compared the fishable
use (Class B aquatic life) for Lake Binder against
applicable narrative criteria in Iowa's water quality
standards. The DNR determined that excess sedi-
ment negatively affected the aquatic life designated
use of the lake by altering the physical and chemical
characteristics of the lake so that it was unable to
maintain a balanced aquatic community. Therefore,
based on the best professional judgment of fisher-
ies biologists, DNR added the lake to Iowa's 1998
CWA section 303(d) list of impaired waters for
sediment.
In 2001, the DNR completed a total maximum
daily load (TMDL) for siltation in Lake Binder. As a
result, DNR placed the lake into Category 4a (TMDL
approved) in the state's integrated report for the
2004 assessment/listing cycle. According to the
TMDL, the sediment load capacity for Lake Binder
is 2,841 tons per year. According to DNR estimates,
approximately 2,906 tons of sediment reached Lake
Binder annually before the restoration efforts.
Lake Binder Watershed-Adams County
Installed BMPs
Legend
£> Watershed Boundary
~~ Streams
Lake Binder/Ponds
s~ Rip-Rapped Shoreline
*"~ Grade Stabilization Structures
Project Terraces
~- Preproject Terraces
ED Upgraded Restroom facilities
0.1 0.2 OJ 0.4 OS 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 IMite
Project Highlights
In 1996, the Adams County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) developed the Three
Lakes Water Quality Project, which included three
Figure 1. The Lake Binder watershed drains an agricultural
area in southwest Iowa.
watersheds—Lake Binder, Lake Icaria and West
Lake Corning City Reservoir. Since then, the SWCD
has worked with landowners to implement best
management practices (BMPs) throughout the
project area (see Figure 1). Of the 16 landowners
living in the Lake Binder watershed, 12 implemented
BMPs to reduce the amount of sediment reaching
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Figure 2. A grade stabilization structure installed
in the Lake Binder watershed captures and slows
runoff into the lake.
the lake. The BMPs included nine grade stabilization
structures in key locations above the lakes; these
structures prevent gully erosion, trap runoff, provide
water for livestock and provide outdoor recreation
(Figure 2). Landowners also adopted rotational graz-
ing systems and began injecting liquid manure into
the fields, which greatly reduced runoff, odor and
production costs. Finally, landowners built numer-
ous terraces that slow overland flow of water across
cropland and trap runoff, significantly reducing
sediment delivery to the lake.
Prior to 2004, high populations of common carp
contributed to elevated turbidity levels in Lake
Binder. Carp can uproot aquatic plants and suspend
loose bottom sediments as they forage for food.
As part of the Lake Binder restoration efforts,
DNR Fisheries staff applied rotenone to the lake
in fall 2004 to eliminate the problematic common
carp. After the successful fish renovation, the
DNR restocked the lake with game fish. Staff also
stabilized shoreline erosion along approximately
1,500 feet of shoreline with rock riprap. The newly
established aquatic plant communities are reducing
the frequency of algal blooms, and water quality
has improved greatly.
Results
Assessments conducted by DNR Fisheries show
that aquatic life diversity and TMDL pollutant
reduction goals have been achieved. The lake's
water clarity has increased, commonly exceeding
four feet in depth and reaching as much as seven
feet in depth. DNR estimates that the installed
BMPs have reduced sediment delivery by 466 tons
per year, as calculated with Iowa's sediment deliv-
ery calculator model. This has resulted in a final
estimated sediment load to the lake of 2,440 tons
per year, surpassing the TMDL target of 2,841 tons
peryear. In addition, the resuspension of lake-
bottom sediment also declined after the carp were
removed.
In 2012, DNR Fisheries staff conducted an aquatic
life survey that shows diverse and healthy popula-
tions of game fish, including bluegill (25 percent of
which are greater than 7 inches in length), large-
mouth bass (30 percent of which are greater than
13 inches in length), and thriving populations of
crappie and channel catfish. On the basis of these
data, DNR removed Lake Binder from the state's
list of impaired waters in 2012. The lake now fully
supports all of its designated uses.
Partners and Funding
Many agencies, partners and funding sources
came together to make this project a reality. The
Iowa DNR Watershed Improvement Program
contributed approximately $60,000 in EPA CWA
section 319 funds to support a project coordina-
tor and cost share for watershed work. DNR
Fisheries contributed $40,000 in staff support
and state funding for the fish renovation. The City
of Corning funded 25 percent of the shoreline
stabilization project; the total cost of $55,072 was
covered by $13,768 from the city and $41,304 from
the DNR. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm
Services Agency contributed about $35,000 for
BMPs.
Other partners included the Iowa Department of
Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil
Conservation, which contributed approximately
$50,000 toward staff and conservation practices.
Local contributions from the City of Corning,
the Adams County SWCD and local landowners
totaled approximately $80,000. Additional partners
included the Adams County Board of Supervisors,
Adams County Pheasants Forever, Adams County
Ducks Unlimited, Adams County Conservation
Board, Adams Economic Development Corps, Iowa
State University Extension-Adams County, Corning
Chamber of Commerce, Corning Municipal Utilities
and Southern Iowa Rural Water Association.
UJ
O
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-12-001RR
September 2012
For additional information contact:
Bob Waters, Iowa Department of Agriculture and
Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation
Bob.Waters@lowaagriculture.gov • 712-336-3782
Rachel Glaza, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
rachel.glaza@dnr.iowa.gov • 515-281-8158
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