Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs
Project: Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Study
Background
The Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Study is a project that is addressing all the impairments (2008) within the Snake River Watershed to create a complete Restoration and Protection Plan for the entire Snake River Watershed. The Snake River Watershed is an 8 digit Hydrologic Unit (HUC) located in the St. Croix
Land use and Land cover data for the Snake River Watershed has a large variation of cover ranging from largely agriculture and urban in the south to largely forest and wetland in the north.
This project is going to address all the remaining impaired waters in the Snake River Watershed and will result in a Four Lakes TMDL and a Streams TMDL which will address all of the Biota, pH, and Bacteria impairments. While restoration of impaired waters is important, it is also important to protect the unimpaired water bodies as well. When complete the watershed will have a plan that will address not just the impaired waters but the unimpaired waters as well.
The local sponsor of this project is the Snake River Watershed Management Board (SRWMB), which is a four county non-regulatory joint powers organization. The SRWMB also has representation from the Aitkin, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Local Lake Associations, and other local groups.
Map and Location
The impairments listed below included in this project can be viewed on the map.
2008 303(d) listed lakes within the Snake River Watershed
| Name | Yr. Listed | Affected Use | Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann* | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
| Fish* | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
| Cross | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
| Knife | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
| Pokegama | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
| Quamba | 2004 | Aquatic Recreation | Nutrient/Eutrophication |
* TMDL underway or complete
2008 303(d) listed streams within the Snake River Watershed
| Reach | Description | Affected Use | Pollutant/Stressor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann River* | Headwaters to Snake River | Aquatic Life/Aquatic Recreation | Fish, Macro-invertebrates, and Bacteria |
| Bear Creek | Unnamed Creek to Snake River | Aquatic Life | Fish and pH |
| Dry Run | Dry Run to Unnamed Creek | Aquatic Life | Macro-invertebrates |
| Groundhouse River* | Headwaters to Snake River | Aquatic Life/Aquatic Recreation | Fish, Macro-invertebrates, and Bacteria |
| Groundhouse River* | South Fork to Snake River | Aquatic Recreation | Bacteria (Fecal Coliform) |
| Groundhouse River, South Fork* | Headwaters to Groundhouse River | Aquatic Life/Aquatic Recreation | Fish, Macro-invertebrates, and Bacteria |
| Knife River | Dry Run to Knife Lake | Aquatic Life | Fish and Macro-invertebrates IBI |
| Mission Creek | Unnamed Lake (58-00173-00) to T39 R21W S31, west line | Aquatic Life | Fish and Macro-invertebrates IBI, and Dissolved Oxygen |
| Mission Creek | T39 R21W S31, east line to Snake River | Aquatic Life | Fish IBI and Dissolved Oxygen |
| Mud Creek | Headwaters to Mud Lake (Quamba) | Aquatic Life/Aquatic Recreation | Fish IBI and Bacteria |
| Mud Creek | Mud Lake (Quamba) to Snake River | Aquatic Life/Aquatic Recreation | Fish IBI and Bacteria |
| Pokegama Creek | East Pokegama Creek to Unnamed Creek | Aquatic Life | Macro-invertebrates IBI |
| Snake River | Headwaters to Hay Creek | Aquatic Life | Fish IBI |
| Snake River | Knife River to Fish Lake Outlet | Aquatic Recreation | Bacteria (Fecal Coliform) |
| Spring Brook | Headwaters to Snake River | Aquatic Life | Fish IBI |
| Unnamed Creek (Cross Creek) | Headwaters to Cross Lake | Aquatic Life | Fish IBI |
| Bear Creek | Headwaters to Snake River | Aquatic Recreation | Bacteria (e. Coli) |
* TMDL underway or complete
+ IBI - Index of Biotic Integrity
More maps are available on the TMDL maps page.
TMDL Report and Implementation Plan
TMDL currently in development.
Other Documents
None.
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
- St. Croix River Basin
- Snake River Watershed Management Board
- Mille Lacs County SWCD
- Kanabec County SWCD
- Aitkin County SWCD
- Pine County SWCD
Information Contact
Christopher Klucas
TMDL Project Manager
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul,
651-757-2498
christopher.klucas@pca.state.mn.us