Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs
TMDL Project: West Fork Des Moines River Watershed — Multiple Impairments
Background
This project addresses bacteria, turbidity, pH and excess nutrients on several reaches and one lake. The MPCA and Barr Engineering Company developed the report. The Cottonwood County Environmental Office and the Heron Lake Watershed District (HLWD) collaborated and provided technical and public involvement support. The TMDL report was approved by the EPA on December 18, 2008.
A local partner, the Heron Lake Watershed District (HLWD) led efforts to develop an implementation plan that addresses issues outlined in the approved TMDL report. The HLWD could not have done this without the generous support and involvement of the advisory stakeholder committee and a technical committee. Both committees met together to learn about the impairments, potential efforts to clean up the impairment, and activities that are currently taking place in the watershed. The meetings were intense, interactive, and informative. The end result of each of the meeting was to develop a list of actions that will improve the water quality, be accepted and implemented by watershed residents, and be cost-effective. The West Fork Des Moines River and Heron Lake TMDL Implementation Plan was approved by the MPCA on September 22, 2009.
Map and location
The Lower Des Moines River watershed (formerly the West Fork watershed) makes up most of the Des Moines River basin, in the southern portion of the state.
- For a map of the stream impairments within this project, see the
Missouri and Des Moines River basins map. - For the location of Heron Lake within Jackson County, see the Minnesota, Missouri, and Des Moines River basin eutrophic lakes map.
TMDL report and implementation plan
- Fact Sheet
- EPA Approval Letter (Approved December 18, 2008)
- West Fork Des Moines River - Multiple Impairments TMDL Study
- TMDL Implementation Plan
- MPCA Approval Letter (Approved by MPCA on September 22, 2009)
Other documents
None at this time.
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
Information contact
Katherine Pekarek-Scott
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
1601 East Hwy 12, Suite 1
Willmar, MN 56258
320-441-6973
katherine.pekarek-scott@state.mn.us