DIVISION
Limnology
Limnologists collect and analyze samples of surface water, wastewater and groundwater throughout Iowa. They examine the physical, chemical and biological characteristics and processes of aquatic systems and their watersheds. The data from this work is used to assess long-term trends in water quality throughout the state.
The environmental specialists in the Limnology section are among the very few taxonomic experts in the Midwest who identify, describe and classify organisms. Most of their work is devoted to sampling Iowa’s surface waters (primarily rivers and streams) and evaluating both water quality and impact of human activity.
Major achievements:
- Collected samples from 76 ambient stream sites each month. Analyses included nitrogen-containing and chloroacetanilide herbicide parent compounds and environmentally persistent degradates.
- Conducted approximately 100 bioassessments throughout the state. These assessments generally require several staff members to complete sampling of each site for water, fish and benthic macroinvertebrates, and a comprehensive physical habitat assessment.
- Completed sampling of selected cold water streams in northeast Iowa for nutrient analysis. Full bioassessments were completed for four streams in northeast Iowa. Continuous monitoring of temperature and dissolved oxygen using data loggers also was required for these streams.
