Upper Iowa River at Bluffton [31-UIR-80]

NameUpper Iowa River at Bluffton
Code31-UIR-80
CountyWinneshiek
Latitude43.4071
Longitude-91.8981
USGS Gagewaterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=05387440
Sampled byIowa DNR Fisheries ~ Decorah Hatchery

Sampling Location

Yearly Averages for Upper Iowa River at Bluffton [31-UIR-80] Download in CSV format
(with comparison to all locations in the watershed)

pH

 Celsius C Fahrenheit F Transparency cm P mg/L N mg/L E. Coli MPN/100mL Ammonia mg/L Discharge cfs Flow cfs Gage Height ft Atrazine ppb Chloride mg/L Sulfate mg/L Total Suspended Solids mg/L
All Years 8.2 (8.2) 16.1 (14.9) 61.0 (58.9) 56 (60+) 0.12 (0.12) 7.1 (5.6) 91 (272) 0.05 (0.07) 395 (395) 296.0 (18.32) 3.8 (3.8) 0.14 (0.14) 14.02 (14.45) 14.11 (14.65) 26 (19)
2022 Mean 7.8 (7.9) 17.5 (15.9) 63.5 (60.7) 55 (60+) 0.1 (0.09) 7.7 (6.1) 128 (250) 14.9 (14.69) 15.16 (15.44) 19 (14)
2021 Mean 8.3 (8.1) 17.9 (15.5) 64.2 (59.8) 60+ (60+) 0.05 (0.06) 5.3 (4.5) 43 (166) 14.16 (13.83) 16.11 (16.38) 10 (7)
2020 Mean 8.1 (8.1) 14.8 (13.0) 58.7 (55.5) 60+ (60+) 0.05 (0.06) 6.2 (5.2) 47 (121) 12.39 (13.01) 14.73 (14.7) 12 (10)
2019 Mean 8.0 (7.9) 14.9 (13.9) 58.8 (57.0) 57 (60+) 0.1 (0.11) 6.7 (5.6) 72 (189) 11.71 (12.79) 13.2 (13.72) 17 (10)
2018 Mean 8.1 (8.2) 15.2 (14.1) 59.4 (57.4) 34 (43) 0.28 (0.26) 7.8 (6.1) 128 (391) 13.59 (14.8) 12.47 (13.58) 89 (72)
2017 Mean 8.2 (8.1) 17.3 (14.7) 63.1 (58.4) 54 (59) 0.14 (0.12) 6.8 (5.7) 76 (359) 14.81 (15.39) 13.81 (14.51) 23 (15)
2016 Mean 8.2 (8.2) 16.5 (15.1) 61.6 (59.2) 60+ (60+) 0.09 (0.12) 9.6 (7.3) 118 (236) 16.23 (16.26) 14.01 (14.3) 19 (14)
2015 Mean 8.5 (8.4) 16.2 (15.1) 61.2 (59.1) 60+ (60+) 0.07 (0.09) 7.9 (5.8) 61 (197) 14.63 (15.12) 12.8 (14.49) 8 (5)
2014 Mean 8.2 (8.2) 14.8 (13.9) 58.7 (57.0) 32 (48) 0.31 (0.16) 8.0 (6.2) 504 (479)
2013 Mean 8.7 (8.2) 14.9 (13.9) 58.8 (57.0) 44 (49) 0.11 (0.14) 8.2 (6.3) 131 (437) 0.06 (0.08)
2012 Mean 9.1 (8.3) 18.4 (16.3) 65.2 (61.4) 60+ (60+) 0.07 (0.09) 3.9 (3.7) 63 (230) <0.05 (0.06) 125 (125) 3.8 (3.8)
2011 Mean 8.6 (8.4) 17.0 (16.9) 62.6 (62.5) 59 (60+) 0.07 (0.08) 6.8 (5.5) 40 (214) <0.05 (<0.05) 350 (350)
2010 Mean 7.9 (8.0) 14.4 (13.9) 57.9 (57.0) 60+ (60+) 0.09 (0.1) 7.5 (6.1) 130 (436) <0.05 (<0.05) 456 (456)
2009 Mean 8.5 (8.2) 13.7 (13.4) 56.7 (56.1) 60+ (60+) 0.06 (0.08) 5.7 (4.3) 48 (204) <0.05 (0.05) 222 (222)
2008 Mean 8.2 (8.1) 15.7 (15.0) 60.3 (59.1) 54 (58) 0.13 (0.12) 7.1 (5.7) 82 (357) 0.09 (0.09) 535 (535) 0.13 (0.09)
2007 Mean 8.2 (8.1) 16.1 (15.4) 60.9 (59.8) 54 (53) 0.16 (0.22) 8.6 (6.2) 214 (745) 0.06 (0.06) 616 (616) 0.17 (0.11)
2006 Mean 8.1 (8.2) 17.6 (16.5) 63.8 (61.7) 55 (56) 0.15 (0.14) 6.7 (5.3) 128 (388) <0.05 (<0.05) 503 (503) 0.11 (0.12)
2005 Mean 8.5 (8.5) 17.3 (16.6) 63.1 (61.9) 44 (55) 0.11 (0.11) 7.9 (5.3) 56 (180) <0.05 (0.11) 348 (348) 296.0 (18.32) 0.14 (0.14)

*All averages are arithmetic means, except for E. Coli and/or Fecal Coliform, which are calculated as geometric means. For purposes of calculating a mean, values that exceed the measurement limit (e.g., <0.05, 60+, <33) are assumed to be 20% greater or less than their limit (e.g., 0.04, 72, 26.4).

Water Quality Standards

For 12.0% of the data records, Nitrate+Nitrite exceeded 10 mg/L. 10 mg/L represents the U.S. Public Health Service recommended limit of 10 mg/L NO3-N (nitrate-nitrogen) in drinking water.

For 30.4% of the data records, E. coli bacteria exceeded 235 CFU/100 ml. 235 CFU/100 ml represents Iowa's single sample maximum water quality standard for primary contact recreational use (Class A1), secondary contact recreational use (Class A2), and children's recreational use (A3).

Download in CSV format

Monthly Water Sampling Data for Upper Iowa River at Bluffton [31-UIR-80]

Sample Date Time by pH

 Celsius C Fahrenheit F Transparency cm P mg/L N mg/L E. Coli MPN/100mL Ammonia mg/L Discharge cfs Flow cfs Gage Height ft Atrazine ppb Chloride mg/L Sulfate mg/L Total Suspended Solids mg/L
10/11/22 13:35 Lydia Lindley 7.83 14.3 57.7 60+ 0.04 5.1 20 12.7 15.4 1.6
09/13/22 13:20 Lydia Lindley 7.64 18.2 64.8 60+ 0.04 5.5 31 12.1 13.2 3.6
08/09/22 12:55 Lydia Lindley 7.66 20.7 69.3 59 0.08 6.4 2014 13.7 14.2 4
07/12/22 13:30 Theresa Shay & L. Lindley 8.02 21.4 70.5 24 0.12 12.5 279 15.3 13.3 43.6
06/14/22 13:20 Theresa Shay 7.82 21.7 71.1 15 0.24 10.4 787 15.6 13.3 79.6
05/10/22 13:25 Theresa Shay 7.85 16.2 61.2 60+ 0.08 6.4 204 18.4 17.2 1.2
04/12/22 12:46 Josh Dansdill 10.0 50.0 60+ 0.08 7.3 10 16.5 19.5 2.4
10/12/21 13:25 Theresa Shay 15.0 59.0 60+ 0.05 4.6 20 14.0 16.7 28
09/14/21 12:50 Theresa Shay 17.2 63.0 60+ 0.05 6.2 75 13.7 14.8 4
08/10/21 12:38 A. Norris 8.09 23.5 74.3 59 0.08 3.4 1106 12.5 16.0 10.5
07/13/21 12:18 A. Norris 8.32 23.1 73.6 60+ 0.06 4.8 52 14.3 16.7 2.4
06/08/21 12:00 A. Norris 8.12 23.5 74.3 60+ 0.03 6.5 20 15.1 15.2 12.4
05/11/21 12:45 A. Norris 8.37 14.0 57.2 60+ 0.05 5.4 20 14.6 16.1 6.8
04/13/21 13:35 Theresa Shay & A. Norris 8.51 8.9 48.0 60+ 0.03 6.1 <10 14.9 17.3 3.2
10/13/20 13:05 Theresa Shay 8.07 12.2 54.0 60+ 0.03 4.6 <10 13.3 15.6 2.8
09/08/20 12:50 Theresa Shay 8.27 13.3 55.9 60+ 0.05 4.6 521 11.8 15.4 4.4
08/11/20 13:25 Theresa Shay 8.14 20.7 69.3 60+ 0.03 5.6 <10 12.0 15.4 4.4
07/14/20 13:10 Evan Lutkenhaus 7.98 20.1 68.2 32 0.12 8.6 428 11.4 12.4 39.6
06/09/20 12:25 Theresa Shay & Evan Lutkenhaus 8.11 19.3 66.7 38 0.09 8.7 144 13.2 14.4 32.4
05/12/20 13:25 Theresa Shay 8.36 12.9 55.2 60+ 0.02 4.9 <10 12.4 15.2 2
04/14/20 12:55 Theresa Shay 8.09 5.3 41.5 60+ 0.03 6.1 31 12.6 14.7 1.5
10/08/19 11:56 Mike Siepker 8.1 12.0 53.6 31 0.16 6.8 399 9.4 11.2 34.8
09/10/19 11:47 Tori Nimrod 16.9 62.5 59 0.08 5.3 384 11.5 14.6 19.2
08/13/19 08:44 Mike Siepker 7.93 18.1 64.6 60+ 0.06 5.7 63 11.9 12.8 9.6
07/09/19 13:10 Theresa Shay 7.82 19.5 67.1 20 0.11 10.2 259 11.6 11.8 35
06/11/19 13:15 Theresa Shay 8.11 15.4 59.7 60+ 0.07 7.9 20 13.1 13.7 5
05/14/19 11:05 Brad Crawford 11.1 52.0 60+ 6.3 10 13.0 14.0 13
04/09/19 11:54 Tori Nimrod 11.1 51.9 60+ 0.1 5.0 20 11.5 14.3 4.8
10/09/18 13:30 Theresa Shay & Kevin Hanson 7.74 14.2 57.6 3 0.87 4.1 24196 8.5 8.7 396
09/11/18 11:47 Steve Pecinovsky 8.15 15.9 60.6 51 0.13 8.0 246 14.5 14.5 18
08/14/18 11:33 Steve Pecinovsky 8.34 20.4 68.7 60+ 0.1 5.6 10 13.1 15.1 7.2
07/10/18 13:25 Theresa Shay 8.27 20.4 68.7 60 0.11 7.9 52 13.4 13.3 14.5
06/12/18 12:05 8.01 16.5 61.7 11 0.3 12.5 146 12.4 9.9 121
05/08/18 11:50 Steve Pecinovsky 8.05 13.6 56.5 27 0.21 8.8 31 16.2 13.1 4
04/17/18 13:10 T. Shay, S. Pecinovsky 8.31 5.7 42.3 14 0.23 7.4 41 17.0 12.7 60.5
10/10/17 12:55 Theresa Shay 8.01 12.7 54.9 14 0.37 6.0 3076 10.3 11.4 65.6
09/12/17 13:05 Theresa Shay 8.27 19.3 66.7 60+ 0.07 5.2 31 15.7 18.1 5.2
08/08/17 13:00 Theresa Shay 8.37 20.3 68.5 60+ 0.06 6.3 10 14.7 15.2 4.4
07/11/17 13:08 Theresa Shay, Sam Boyd 7.93 22.3 72.1 18 0.16 7.4 448 12.9 12.4 51.5
06/13/17 12:50 Theresa Shay 8.26 22.3 72.1 57 0.08 7.0 109 22.5 14.3 18.4
05/09/17 13:15 Theresa Shay 8.1 14.4 58.0 60+ 0.14 8.3 10 14.3 12.7 9.2
04/11/17 13:45 Josh Dansdill 8.37 9.5 49.1 60+ 0.08 7.5 31 13.3 12.6 5.6
10/11/16 13:07 Theresa Shay 8.15 14.4 58.0 60+ 0.08 7.9 86 13.2 13.6 3.8
09/13/16 13:20 Theresa Shay 8.02 16.7 62.0 25 0.17 8.6 908 13.2 12.6 57.5
08/09/16 08:37 Theresa Shay 7.98 18.9 66.0 60+ 0.12 8.7 327 14.4 12.9 15
07/12/16 08:00 Theresa Shay 8.13 21.1 70.0 60+ 0.04 7.4 246 15.6 15.0 13.3
06/14/16 12:10 Siepker & Pribyl 8.25 21.1 70.0 58 0.09 13.2 211 20.2 14.2 24.8
05/10/16 13:35 Theresa Shay 8.49 14.4 58.0 60+ 0.07 10.0 20 19.6 15.0 8
04/12/16 12:43 Josh Dansdill 8.57 8.6 47.5 60+ 0.07 11.5 12 17.4 14.8 9.2
10/06/15 13:10 Theresa Shay 8.52 13.8 56.8 60+ 0.05 5.2 52 15.4 17.3 2.3
09/01/15 08:10 Theresa Shay & Mike Siepker 8.18 19.4 66.9 60+ 0.07 5.0 98 15.0 5.5 14.8
08/04/15 13:15 Theresa Shay 8.55 22.2 72.0 60+ 0.09 7.4 41 13.4 14.1 11.3
07/07/15 13:56 Theresa Shay 8.22 18.3 64.9 60+ 0.08 9.9 238 14.7 14.3 1.8
06/02/15 13:40 Theresa Shay 17.2 63.0 60+ 0.06 11.0 41
05/05/15 13:33 Theresa Shay 14.4 57.9 60+ 0.06 7.8 160
04/07/15 13:22 Josh Dansdill 8.8 8.3 46.9 60+ 0.06 8.8 10
10/07/14 13:05 Michael Hoeper 11.6 52.9 60+ 0.09 9.0 150
09/02/14 13:55 Michael Hoeper 8.28 19.6 67.3 34 0.25 5.5 17000
08/05/14 13:00 Theresa Shay 8.34 18.8 65.8 39 0.1 5.9 260
07/08/14 13:29 Zach Benttine 8.3 17.8 64.0 18 0.17 9.8 3700
06/03/14 13:15 Theresa Shay 8.09 19.4 66.9 3 0.82 9.6 3900
05/06/14 14:05 Bill Kalishek 8.2 12.2 54.0 51 0.08 14.0 10
04/01/14 13:45 Theresa Shay 8.17 4.4 39.9 5 0.63 2.1 86
10/01/13 12:35 Bill Kalishek 9.63 16.1 61.0 60+ 0.03 5.3 10 <0.05
09/03/13 12:15 Theresa Shay 8.72 16.1 61.0 60+ 0.07 6.1 10 <0.05
08/06/13 12:34 Tyler Willey 8.85 18.9 66.0 57 0.08 6.8 1200 <0.05
07/09/13 00:00 Theresa Shay 21.1 70.0 32 0.09 8.9 1200 <0.05
06/04/13 12:35 Theresa Shay 8.95 12.7 54.9 18 0.15 12.0 270 <0.05
05/07/13 13:00 Theresa Shay 8.35 12.7 54.9 22 0.16 15.0 410 <0.05
04/09/13 00:00 Bill Kalishek 7.64 6.6 43.9 34 0.2 3.2 41 0.16
10/02/12 17:35 Theresa Shay 8.68 13.3 56.0 60+ 0.03 2.7 31 <0.05 48 3.75
09/04/12 18:30 24.4 76.0 60+ 0.05 2.5 52 <0.05 58 3.77
08/07/12 17:40 Adam Grim 9.4 23.9 75.0 29 0.14 1.6 110 <0.05 93 3.9
07/02/12 17:44 0.06 3.6 220 0.05 120
06/05/12 17:30 JJ Moser 21.9 71.4 60+ 0.06 6.7 10 <0.05 205
05/01/12 18:12 Theresa Shay 9.27 12.2 54.0 60+ 0.05 7.0 250 <0.05 249
04/03/12 18:05 Theresa Shay 14.8 58.6 60 0.08 2.9 41 <0.05 99
10/04/11 17:25 0.06 4.7 20 <0.05 109
09/06/11 17:55 Theresa Shay 16.3 61.3 58 0.11 4.7 190 <0.05 143
08/02/11 17:11 48 0.06 5.3 20 <0.05 167
07/05/11 16:30 21.1 70.0 47 0.07 7.3 110 <0.05 286
06/07/11 17:10 21.7 71.0 60+ 0.07 9.3 52 <0.05 512
05/03/11 12:50 8.6 8.9 48.0 60+ 0.07 9.4 10 <0.05 880
10/05/10 18:35 Theresa Shay 9.4 49.0 60+ 0.07 8.8 110 <0.05 527
09/07/10 17:30 JJ Moser 11.7 53.0 60+ 0.08 6.6 880 <0.05 291
08/03/10 17:34 JJ Moser 8.65 20.0 68.0 60+ 0.1 8.9 280 <0.05 598
07/06/10 14:00 5.7 17.8 64.0 51 0.1 11.0 660 <0.05 610
06/01/10 17:20 Bill Kalishek 8.6 20.0 68.0 60+ 0.15 6.4 10 <0.05 299
05/04/10 17:48 JJ Moser 8.37 13.3 56.0 60+ 0.06 4.5 41 <0.05 471
04/06/10 17:30 Theresa Shay & JJ Moser 8.21 8.3 47.0 60+ 0.05 6.5 84 <0.05 395
10/06/09 17:15 8.31 9.0 48.2 60+ 0.09 4.0 150 <0.05 148
09/01/09 17:41 0.06 4.4 52 <0.05 107
08/04/09 18:20 8.54 20.0 68.0 60+ 0.05 4.4 41 <0.05 139
07/07/09 17:20 8.5 18.5 65.3 60+ 0.04 6.4 85 <0.05 306
06/02/09 21:25 8.5 17.8 64.0 60+ 0.08 9.6 41 <0.05 400
05/05/09 16:24 8.46 13.0 55.4 60+ 0.06 6.4 63 <0.05 291
04/07/09 18:00 Aaron Schwartzhoff 8.59 4.0 39.2 60+ 0.04 4.8 <10 0.07 163
10/07/08 17:30 0.08 5.0 70 <0.05 122 0.07
09/02/08 16:55 8.74 21.0 69.8 59 0.12 5.3 10 0.05 189 0.09
08/05/08 18:20 8.64 20.0 68.0 58 0.1 6.7 80 <0.05 291 0.08
07/01/08 17:30 6.6 17.8 64.0 60+ 0.06 7.5 100 <0.05 592 0.13
06/03/08 17:20 8.5 15.6 60.1 51 0.08 11.0 300 0.09 662 0.43
05/06/08 18:03 Aaron Schwartzhoff 8.43 15.0 59.0 60+ 0.08 8.3 <10 0.07 777 <0.05
04/01/08 16:55 Pecinovsky 8.02 5.0 41.0 9 0.38 5.8 1800 0.3 1110 <0.05
10/16/07 17:00 8.32 12.0 53.6 47 0.12 8.3 1200 0.09 878 0.05
09/04/07 18:10 8.35 19.0 66.2 60+ 0.42 7.0 120 <0.05 560 0.13
08/07/07 17:18 8.38 21.0 69.8 60+ 0.1 4.4 780 <0.05 141 0.09
07/02/07 17:25 8.52 21.1 70.0 60+ 0.08 7.7 60 <0.05 210 0.11
06/05/07 14:38 7.98 17.2 63.0 42 0.12 14.0 940 <0.05 583 0.69
05/01/07 17:10 0.07 8.0 <10 <0.05 418 0.06
04/03/07 14:21 7.45 6.0 42.8 20 0.19 11.0 400 0.16 1520 <0.06
10/03/06 12:35 8.0 15.7 60.3 60+ 0.1 3.9 100 <0.05 79 0.06
09/05/06 17:50 8.62 19.3 66.7 60+ 0.13 4.8 140 <0.05 102 0.08
08/01/06 17:12 8.2 24.4 75.9 53 0.13 4.3 <10 <0.05 121 0.05
07/05/06 17:30 8.23 21.4 70.5 60+ 0.08 6.4 100 <0.05 174 0.07
06/06/06 17:40 8.25 20.7 69.3 55 0.08 6.3 50 <0.05 214 0.12
05/02/06 19:15 7.8 13.8 56.8 53 0.11 9.2 2700 <0.05 894 0.28
04/04/06 19:05 7.5 8.2 46.8 6 0.45 12.0 380 0.06 1940 0.076
10/04/05 17:45 8.36 19.6 67.3 32.5 0.1 9.5 200 <0.05 454 0.09
09/06/05 17:00 8.45 19.5 67.1 25 0.1 5.4 90 <0.05 185 0.09
08/02/05 14:30 8.23 23.6 74.5 38 0.14 8.3 430 <0.05 470 0.2
07/05/05 14:40 8.93 23.7 74.7 52.5 0.08 9.5 140 <0.05 278 0.22
06/07/05 15:00 8.3 9.1 48.4 60+ 0.1 6.8 20 <0.05 288 301.0 0.22
05/03/05 16:55 8.6 12.7 54.9 45 0.08 8.1 <10 <0.05 298 291.0 0.14
04/06/05 15:19 8.6 12.7 54.9 45 0.14 7.4 10 0.07 460 0.05
  • 10/11/2022: water level low
  • 09/13/2022: water level low
  • 08/09/2022: flows normal
  • 07/12/2022: flows elevated, water turbid
  • 06/14/2022: flows elevated, water looks like a latte
  • 05/10/2022: levels up, green tint to water
  • 04/12/2022: Good flow, clear
  • 09/14/2021: flows/levels up
  • 07/13/2021: very clear, good flow, SW wind
  • 05/11/2021: windy, clear, slow easy flow
  • 04/13/2021: choppy, good flow
  • 05/12/2020: low flow
  • 09/10/2019: After rain event
  • 07/09/2019: chocolate milk, overcast to cloudy, breezy, humid, 82deg F
  • 09/11/2018: High, a little off color. Flooding
  • 08/14/2018: Looks good
  • 06/12/2018: High from weekend rains - was out of banks
  • 05/08/2018: Up from last week's rain
  • 04/17/2018: dirty, foamy, flow good
  • 10/10/2017: Flows up, water very muddy, started raining.
  • 09/12/2017: Low flow. Off color - brownish
  • 07/11/2017: Flows up, water turbid.
  • 06/13/2017: Water off color.
  • 05/09/2017: overcast, temps mid 50s. T-storms overnight over UIR, dropping variable amounts of rain (0.10 - 1.33 inches in Dorchester)
  • 04/11/2017: Clear, baseflow
  • 09/13/2016: flows up
  • 05/10/2016: green tint to water
  • 08/04/2015: Mostly sunny , some high clouds, upper 70's
  • 07/08/2014: Medium Flow, muddy, small leaf debris
  • 06/03/2014: Lots of dirt! High flows
  • 05/06/2014: Clear and normal water levels
  • 04/01/2014: Up and Muddy
  • 10/01/2013: Low and Clear
  • 09/03/2013: green tint to water
  • 07/09/2013: Rain in am
  • 06/04/2013: Flows up and turbid
  • 05/07/2013: Higher flows and muddy
  • 09/04/2012: Low & Clear; pH Out of Calibration; Algae Bloom or Diatom
  • 06/05/2012: pH Not Calibrated
  • 04/03/2012: Low & Clear; pH Out of Calibration
  • 05/03/2011: Clear - normal flow
  • 06/01/2010: Normal water level
  • 05/04/2010: Sunny 75 degrees, Breezy
  • 04/07/2009: county working on bridge, backhoe & bulldozer work @ time of sample 30 yards upstream
  • 05/06/2008: Moderate to High Flow, Clear
  • 04/01/2008: High, Muddy
  • 05/01/2007: Missing Field Data

One-time Rainfall Event Samples for Upper Iowa River at Bluffton (Not part of above statistics)

Sample Date Time by pH

 Celsius C Fahrenheit F Transparency cm P mg/L N mg/L E. Coli MPN/100mL Ammonia mg/L Discharge cfs Flow cfs Gage Height ft Atrazine ppb Chloride mg/L Sulfate mg/L Total Suspended Solids mg/L
03/14/07 14:15 7.34 0.0 32.0 7 0.96 2.2 2700 1.2 <0.05
07/25/05 15:37 8.6 21.5 70.7 49 2.4 1.3 77000 0.19 0.29

Nearby Sampling Locations

← Upstream

Downstream →