Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs
Project: Crystal, Keller, and Lee Lakes TMDL and Earley Lake Water Quality Assessment - Excess Nutrients
Background
Crystal, Keller, Lee, and Earley Lakes were listed on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's 303(d) Impaired Waters List in 2002 as impaired for aquatic recreation due to excess nutrients (phosphorus). As part of Clean Water Act requirements, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report must be completed for each impaired waterbody. Excess phosphorus from stormwater runoff creates poor water quality conditions and causes summer algal blooms, which limit lake recreational activities such as swimming. Based on the most recent 10 years of water quality data, Earley Lake is now meeting smtate water quality standards and will be removed from the Impaired Waters List.
Crystal, Keller, Lee, and Earley Lakes are located in the southern Twin Cities metro area in the cities of Burnsville, Lakeville, and Apple Valley. The lakes are between 19 and 292 acres in size. The lakes combined watershed is approximately 5,000 acres which is part of the Black Dog Watershed Management Organization. The land area is almost completely developed, and the main land uses are low density residential, highway, and commercial development. Recreational opportunities vary with each lake. Crystal Lake provides a public beach and boat landing for swimming, fishing, water skiing, and aesthetic viewing, Keller Lake is used for fishing, canoeing, and wildlife viewing, and Lee and Earley Lakes provide wildlife observation and aesthetic viewing.
The main objectives of this project are to determine the sources of the excess nutrients to these lakes and to estimate the reductions that are needed in order for Crystal, Keller, and Lee Lakes to meet the appropriate water quality standards and to improve water quality in Earley Lake. The end product of this project will be a Crystal, Keller, and Lee Lakes TMDL report, Earley Lake water quality assessment, and implementation plan. The Black Dog Watershed Management Organization is working with Barr Engineering to prepare the reports for the MPCA.
Map and location
Crystal Lake (cities of Burnsville and Lakeville), Keller Lake (cities of Burnsville and Apple Valley), Lee Lake (city of Lakeville), and Earley Lake (city of Burnsville) are located in the southern Twin Cities metro area in Dakota and Scott counties. The lakes lie in the Black Dog sub-watershed in the Lower Minnesota River watershed of the Minnesota River and Lower Mississippi River basins.
More maps are available on the TMDL maps page.
TMDL report and implementation plan
Final TMDL Report (wq-iw11-10e)- EPA Approval Letter (September 30, 2011) (wq-iw11-10g)
- TMDL Implementation Plan (November 3, 2011) (wq-iw11-10c)
Other documents
- TMDL Fact Sheet (wq-iw11-10a)
Meetings and events
See the TMDL Meetings, Events and News page for notices of general interest and event-related information on impaired waters/TMDLs.
Links
- MPCA: Minnesota’s Impaired Waters and TMDLs
- Local Sponsor: Black Dog Watershed Management Organization
- Lead Consultant: Barr Engineering Company
- Burnsville
- Lakeville
- Apple Valley
- Dakota County
- Basins in Minnesota
Information contact
Barb Peichel
TMDL/Watershed Project Manager
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
651-757-2646
barbara.peichel@state.mn.us
Daryl Jacobson
13713 Frontier Ct.
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-895-4574
daryl.jacobson@ci.burnsville.mn.us