Contact: Alexis Donath, 651-757-2312
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking comments on a water quality report for Nine Mile Creek in Hennepin County. The MPCA has identified Nine Mile Creek as impaired because of its excess chloride levels. The public comment period begins July 26 and continues through Aug. 25, 2010.
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed is in an urban area, which includes portions of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Richfield. Excess chloride levels in the creek are generally highest in the winter, when road salts are frequently applied to paved surfaces. The watershed includes an extensive network of highways and local roads, and chloride-containing salts applied to these roads eventually drain to the creek. Excess chloride is harmful to fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants living in streams.
The MPCA’s report indicates that chloride must be reduced by 62 percent in order for Nine Mile Creek to meet water quality standards. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load study, or TMDL, quantifies pollutant levels, identifies sources of pollution and proposes ways to bring water quality back standards. After reviewing comments from the public and obtaining approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the MPCA and other local organizations will work out a plan for improving Nine Mile Creek’s water quality.
The draft report is available online at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/project-ninemilecreek. For more information, to receive a copy of the report, or to submit comments, contact Chris Zadak by phone at 651-757-2837 or by e-mail at Chris.Zadak@state.mn.us. Written comments should be sent to Zadak at MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Comments must be received in writing by Aug. 25, 2010. They must include an explanation of the commenter’s interest in the report, a clear statement of recommended changes to specific sections of the TMDL, and specific reasons for any proposed changes.
