Minnesota's impaired waters and TMDLs
TMDL projects and staff contacts
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After impaired waters are listed, the MPCA organizes them into TMDL projects. Each project may contain one or more waterbodies or segments of a waterbody. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive without violating water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant’s sources.
The TMDL process identifies all sources of the pollutant and determines how much each source must reduce its contribution in order to meet the standard. The source reduction strategies form the basis of an implementation plan which must be completed within one year after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approves a TMDL study.
Staff contactsDraft/public noticed
Draft/public noticed TMDLs
Draft TMDLs go through an extensive technical review and public notice process before the MPCA submits them to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for final approval. Public comments on draft TMDL reports are typically accepted for 30 days (see schedules for specific reports below). If there are substantial changes made to the draft as a result of public comment, it will be re-public noticed. Otherwise, the TMDL is submitted to EPA for final approval a minimum of 30 days following the conclusion of the public notice period. Some TMDLs receive significant public comments which may require several weeks for response preparation. In addition, the EPA typically completes its review of the final draft within 30-days of receiving it from the MPCA, but some studies may require additional time.
- Blue Earth River: Turbidity (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment April 23, 2012 - May 29, 2012
- Bluff Creek: Turbidity and Impaired Fish Biota (Metro)
- Public Notice open for comment November 5 – December 5, 2012
- Public Notice open for comment November 5 – December 5, 2012
- Buffalo Creek — South Fork Crow River: Bacteria (Upper Mississippi Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment June 13, 2011 – August 15, 2011
- Byllesby Reservoir: Excess Nutrients (Lower Mississippi River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment May 13, 2013 - July 15, 2013
- The public comment period has been extended to July 15, 2013.
- Chippewa River: Turbidity (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment September 24, 2012 – October 24, 2012
- Cottonwood River: Fecal Coliform (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment April 25, 2011 – May 25, 2011
- Deer Creek: Turbidity (Lake Superior Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment March 25 – April 23, 2013.
- Lake Crystal: Excess Nutrients (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment August 27, 2012 – September 26, 2012
- Public Notice open for comment August 27, 2012 – September 26, 2012
- Lake Winona: Excess Nutrients (Upper Mississippi Basin) Site Specific Standard
- Public Notice amended public notice open for comment May 30, 2011 – August 15, 2011
- Little Rock Creek: Impaired Biota
- Public Notice open for comment Feb. 4 – Mar. 6, 2013
- Lower Crow River (North Fork): multiple impairments (Upper Mississippi River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment June 18, 2012 – September 4, 2012
- Minnehaha Creek Bacteria and Lake Hiawatha Excess Nutrients (Upper Mississippi River Basin) Site Specific Standard
- Public Notice open for comment Feb. 4 – Mar. 6, 2013.
- Minnesota River: Turbidity (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment February 27, 2012 – May 29, 2012
- The public comment period has been extended to May 29, 2012. The public notice for this extension will be posted April 9, 2012.
- Peltier and Centerville Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro)
- Public Notice open for comment January 30, 2012 – February 29, 2012
- Pope County 8 Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment july 23, 2012 – August 22, 2012
- Redwood River: Fecal Coliform (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment April 25, 2011 – May 25, 2011
- Sauk Lake: Excess Nutrients (Upper Mississippi River Basin) - Sauk Lake-North Bay
- Public Notice open for comment May 27, 2013 – June 26, 2013
- South Metro Mississippi River: Turbidity (Lower Mississippi River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment February 27, 2012 – May 29, 2012
- The public comment period has been extended to May 29, 2012. The public notice for this extension will be posted April 9, 2012.
Approved
Approved TMDLs/implementation plans
Listed below are the TMDLs that have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and implementation plans approved by the MPCA. A spreadsheet with this information is also attached below. For location information, see the map of approved TMDLs in Minnesota.
List of approved TMDLs and implementation plans
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Approved TMDLs (PDF Version) (wq-iw1-13c)
Map of approved TMDLs in Minnesota
- To see the approved TMDLs in Minnesota, select the "Approved TMDLs" button of the Impaired Waters Viewer.
| TMDL Projects | TMDL Approved by U.S. EPA | Implementation Plan Approved by MPCA | Major Basin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Minnesota River: Low Dissolved Oxygen | September 28, 2004 | February 2006 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Yellow Medicine (South Branch) TMDL: Fecal Coliform Bacteria | September 30, 2004 | September 27, 2005 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Chippewa River: Un-ionized Ammonia | October 29, 2004 | November 2004 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Long Prairie River Watershed: Low Dissolved Oxygen | August 5, 2005 | January 2006 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Lower Mississippi River Basin TMDL: Regional Fecal Coliform | April 5, 2006 | September 2007 | Lower Mississippi River Basin |
| Chippewa River TMDL: Fecal Coliform | January 11, 2007 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Lower Otter Tail River TMDL: Turbidity | February 12, 2007 | February 2007 | Red River Basin |
| Shingle Creek TMDL: Chloride | February 14, 2007 | March 5, 2007 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Sunrise River (North Branch) TMDL: Fecal Coliform Bacteria | February 22, 2007 | February 2007 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Lake Independence TMDL: Excess Nutrients | February 23, 2007 | March 2007 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Carver-Bevens-Silver Creeks TMDL: Fecal Coliform | March 14, 2007 | March 2007 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Statewide TMDL: Mercury Pollutant Reduction Plan | March 27, 2007 | October 2009 | Statewide |
| Lower Cannon River TMDL: Turbidity | July 13, 2007 | October 14, 2009 | Lower Mississippi River Basin |
| Twin and Ryan Lakes TMDL: Excess Nutrients | November 9, 2007 | November 13, 2007 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Blue Earth River TMDL: Fecal Coliform Bacteria | June 7, 2007 | November 14, 2007 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Pomme de Terre River TMDL: Fecal Coliform Bacteria | December 7, 2007 | September 29, 2008 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Rock River TMDL: Fecal and Turbidity | April 23, 2008 | October 2008 | Missouri and Des Moines River Basins |
| Pipestone Creek TMDL: Fecal Coliform Bacteria and Turbidity | July 3, 2008 | September 2008 | Missouri and Des Moines River Basins |
| High Island Creek - Rush River: Fecal Coliform | November 14, 2008 | July 14, 2009 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Burandt Lake: Excess Nutrients | November 26, 2008 | June 9, 2009 | Minnesota River Basin |
| West Fork Des Moines River Watershed: Multiple Impairments | December 18, 2008 | September 22, 2009 | Missouri and Des Moines River Basins |
| Crystal Lake (Metro): Excess Nutrients | March 25, 2009 | July 7, 2009 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Long and Farquar Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | April 8, 2009 | June 30, 2010 | Lower Mississippi River Basin |
| Groundhouse River: Fecal Coliform and Impaired Biota | May 12, 2009 | July 15, 2009 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Hardwood Creek: Impaired Biota, Dissolved Oxygen (Metro) | June 18, 2009 | July 10, 2009 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Lower Wild Rice River TMDL: Turbidity | July 17, 2009 | October 12, 2009 | Red River Basin |
| Schmidt, Pomerleau, and Bass Lakes: Excess Nutrients | September 25, 2009 | December 3, 2009 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Vermillion River TMDL: Turbidity | September 29, 2009 | September 14, 2011 | Lower Mississippi River Basin |
| Golden Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 30, 2009 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Clearwater River and 6 Lakes: Bacteria and Nutrients | January 26, 2010 | May 19, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Kohlman Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | March 23, 2010 | May 6, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Meadow Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | March 23, 2010 | June 14, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Cedar Island, Pike and Eagle Lakes: Excess Nutrients | April 14, 2010 | May 18, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Comfort Lake - Forest Lake TMDL: Excess Nutrients | June 7, 2010 | June 11, 2010 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Mustinka River: Turbidity | June 8, 2010 | November 30, 2010 | Red River Basin |
| Knife River: Turbidity | July 2, 2010 | December 9, 2011 | Lake Superior Basin |
| Silver Lake TMDL: Excessive Nutrients | July 29, 2010 | May 25, 2011 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Fish and Schwanz Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 9, 2010 | November 24, 2010 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Reitz Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 20, 2010 | September 20, 2010 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Clearwater River - Five Lakes Nutrients TMDL (Albion, Augusta, Caroline, Henshaw and Swartout Lakes) | September 28, 2010 | May 19, 2010 | Upper Mississippi Basin |
| Carver Creek Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 28, 2010 | November 12, 2010 | Minnesota River Basin |
| South Fork Crow River Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 28, 2010 | November 3, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Magda Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 30, 2010 | October 1, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Wirth Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | October 25, 2010 | October 25, 2010 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Lake Margaret: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | October 26, 2010 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Clearwater River (UM Basin) CD #44 to Lake Betsy: Dissolved Oxygen | November 8, 2010 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Ninemile Creek: Impaired Biota, Turbidity & Chloride | November 29, 2010 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Browns Creek: Lack of a coldwater assemblage and Impaired Biota | December 21, 2010 | February 16, 2012 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Como Lake: Excess Nutrients | December 23, 2010 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Getchel, Unnamed, Stoney (GUS): Turbidity | February 7, 2011 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Medicine Lake: Excessive Nutrients (Metro) | February 8, 2011 | February 8, 2011 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Minnehaha Creek Watershed Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | April 25, 2011 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Lake Sarah: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | April 25, 2011 | September 16, 2011 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Jessie Lake: Excess Nutrients | May 4, 2011 | TBD | Rainy River Basin |
| Rabbit River: Turbidity | June 14, 2011 | TBD | Red River Basin |
| Big Sandy Area Lakes: Excess Nutrients | June 14, 2011 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Long and Ringo Lakes TMDL: Excess Nutrients | July 20, 2011 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Sweeney Lake: Phosphorus | August 10, 2011 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Spring Lake-Upper Prior Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | September 14, 2011 | February 29, 2012 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Diamond Lake: Excess Nutrients | September 21, 2011 | October 11, 2011 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Pomme de Terre River Watershed: Turbidity | September 21, 2011 | November 23, 2011 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Crystal, Keller, Lee, and Earley Lakes: Excess Nutrients | September 30, 2011 | November 3, 2011 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Shingle and Bass Creeks: Impaired Biota & Dissolved Oxygen (Metro) | November 4, 2011 | January 30, 2012 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Little Rock Lake: Excess Nutrients | February 2, 2012 | March 14, 2013 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Cedar and McMahon Lakes: Excess Nutrients | February 23, 2012 | June 18, 2012 | Minnesota River Basin |
| North Fork Crow River, Rice Lake: Excess Nutrients | May 7, 2012 | June 4, 2012 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Ann and Emma Lakes: Excess Nutrients | May 22, 2012 | June 19, 2012 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Zumbro River Watershed: Turbidity | May 25, 2012 | August 28, 2012 | Lower Mississippi River Basin |
| Bald Eagle Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | June 11, 2012 | June 11, 2012 | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Elk River Watershed: Multiple Impairments | June 14, 2012 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Martin and Typo Lakes: Excess Nutrients | June 20 2012 | August 8, 2012 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Lake St. Croix: Excess Nutrients | August 8, 2012 | October 26, 2012 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Carnelian Marine St. Croix 10 Lake TMDL: Excess Nutrients | September 18, 2012 | TBD | St. Croix River Basin |
| Lake Shaokatan: Excess Nutrients | September 20, 2012 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Carver-Bevens Creeks — Fecal Coliform Bacteria and Turbidity | September 20, 2012 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Mill Creek Bacteria and Pearl Lake Nutrients | September 25, 2012 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Carver-Bevens Creeks — Fecal Coliform Bacteria and Turbidity | September 26, 2012 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Chisago Lakes: Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators | February 20, 2013 | February 25, 2013 | St. Croix River Basin |
| Lac qui Parle River-Yellow Bank: Bacteria, Turbidity, and Low Dissolved Oxygen | May 8, 2013 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Carver Creek Lakes: Excess Nutrients (Metro) | May 17, 2013 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| Ann River Watershed: Excess Nutrients and Impaired Biota | June 3, 2013 | TBD | St. Croix River Basin |
| Lake Osakis Watershed: Excess Nutrients |
June 5, 2013 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
Underway
TMDLs underway
TMDLs projects typically require 3-4 years to complete. Each project page listed is linked to its individual Web page to provide more specific information and staff contacts. Some of the project pages are still under construction.
Major basins in Minnesota
Lake Superior Basin
Lower Mississippi River Basin
Minnesota River Basin
- Cottonwood River: Turbidity
- Hawk Creek - Beaver Creek Watershed TMDL Project: Turbidity and Fecal Coliform
- High Island Creek (Turbidity and Impaired Biota) and Rush River (Turbidity) Watersheds TMDL
- Lura Lake: Excess Nutrients
- Redwood River: Turbidity
Missouri and Des Moines River Basins
- None at this time
Red River Basin
- Clearwater River: Dissolved Oxygen and Fecal Coliform
- Red River- Moorhead: Ammonia
- Red River- Moorhead: Fecal Coliform
- Red River Basin: Turbidity
Rainy River Basin
- Baudette River: Dissolved Oxygen
- Little Fork River: Turbidity
- Williams Creek: Dissolved Oxygen
St. Croix River Basin
- Goose Creek Watershed Restoration and Protection Project
- Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Study
- Sunrise Watershed TMDL: Multiple Impairments
- Valley Branch Watershed Restoration and Protection Project
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Watersheds
- Beaver Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro)
- Credit River: Turbidity (Metro)
- Elm Creek Watershed - Multiple Impairments
- Minnehaha Creek Bacteria & Lake Hiawatha Excess Nutrients (Metro)
- Sand Creek Watershed: Multiple Impairments
- TCMA Chloride Project
- Upper Mississippi River: Bacteria
Upper Mississippi River Basin
- Sauk River Chain of Lakes: Excess Nutrients
- Sauk River: Fecal Coliform
- Upper Mississippi River: Bacteria
- Upper Mississippi River Headwaters: Dissolved Oxygen
All projects
Web page under development
Definitions for project status categories
Write or call the listed MPCA staff contact for further information on a specific TMDL project:
- Restored, no TMDL: Waterbody is again attaining water quality standards due to pollution reduction activities that corrected the problem prior to the development of any TMDL.
- Approved/Restored: TMDL study approved by the U.S. EPA and waterbody is again attaining water quality standards due to watershed activities to implement the TMDL.
- Approved: TMDL study approved by the U.S. EPA and project is in implementation phase.
- Underway: TMDL study is in development -- studies are initiated following MPCA approval of a project work plan and / or contract and typically require 2-4 years to complete .
- Not Underway: TMDL study has not formally begun.