Media Contact: Alexis Donath, 651-757-2312
St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on a water quality improvement report for Crystal, Keller, Lee, and Earley Lakes in Dakota County. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study, focuses on pollution caused by excess phosphorus. A public comment period begins March 14 and continues through April 13.
The lakes were placed on the state's impaired waters list because of excess levels of phosphorus. Phosphorus is considered a pollutant when it stimulates nuisance growth of algae. Crystal, Keller, Lee and Earley Lakes are located in the southern Twin Cities metro area in the cities of Burnsville, Lakeville, and Apple Valley and range in size from 19 to 292 acres. Their combined watershed covers approximately 5,000 acres, which consists almost entirely of residential, highway, and commercial development.
The TMDL report is part of a nationwide effort under the federal Clean Water Act to identify and clean up pollution in streams, rivers and lakes. A TMDL report is a scientific study that calculates the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive (known as the "loading capacity") without exceeding water quality standards. After receiving feedback from the public and from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, a plan will be developed to reduce phosphorus pollution in the lakes.
The draft report may be viewed at www.pca.state.mn.us/enzq966. For more information or to submit comments, contact Barb Peichel, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155, e-mail barbara.peichel@state.mn.us; phone 651-757-2646. Comments must be received in writing at the St. Paul MPCA office by the close of business April 13. They must include an explanation of the commenter’s interest in the TMDL report, a clear statement of any recommended changes (including references to specific sections of the report), and specific reasons for any suggested changes.
More information on the state's impaired waters list and TMDL studies is available on the Web at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl or by calling 1-800-657-3864.
