Show All Minnesota's impaired waters and TMDLs
TMDL projects and staff contacts
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.
Draft/public noticed TMDLs
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.
- Ann and Emma Lakes: Excess Nutrients(Upper Mississippi Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment August 29, 2011 – September 28, 2011
- Bald Eagle Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro)
- Public Notice open for comment February 28, 2011 - March 30, 2011
- Blue Earth River: Turbidity (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment April 23, 2012 - May 29, 2012
- Buffalo Creek - South Fork Crow River: Bacteria(Upper Mississippi Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment June 13, 2011 – August 15, 2011
- Due to the State Government shutdown, the public comment period has been extended to August 15, 2011
- Byllesby Reservoir: Excess Nutrients(Lower Miss River Basin) Site Specific Standard
- Public Notice open for comment May 26, 2009 - June 26, 2009
- Carnelian Marine St. Croix 10 Lake TMDL: Excess Nutrients (St. Croix River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment April 16, 2012 - May 16, 2012
- Carver-Bevens Creeks: Fecal Coliform Bacteria and Turbidity (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment November 14, 2011 – December 14, 2011
- Cottonwood River: Fecal Coliform (Minnesota)
- Public Notice open for comment April 25, 2011 – May 25, 2011
- Elk River Watershed — Multiple Impairments (Upper Mississippi Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment February 6, 2012 – March 7, 2012
- This TMDL was previously public noticed in June – August 2011. The TMDL report was revised because a section of the original report did not account for the total phosphorus wasteload contribution within the Big Elk Lake watershed. The overall load reduction percentage did not change as a result of this revision. This revision prompted the second public comment period. The revised draft TMDL is available for review on the Elk River Watershed TMDL webpage.
- Lac qui Parle River-Yellow Bank: Bacteria, Turbidity, and Low Dissolved Oxygen (Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment May 29, 2012 – June 27, 2012
- This TMDL report is being re-public noticed because of a website link error in the first public notice and State Register notice.
- Lake Shaokatan: Excess Nutrients(Minnesota River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment February 8, 2010 - March 10, 2010
- This TMDL was previously public noticed in July of 2009. Due to the number and type of revisions made as a result of public comments received, this TMDL report is being re-public noticed. See the Lake Shaokatan Web page for more information.
- Lake St. Croix: Excess Nutrients(St. Croix River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment December 12, 2011 - January 11, 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
- Due to the State Government shutdown, the public comment period has been extended to August 15, 2011
- Martin and Typo Lakes: Excess Nutrients(St. Croix River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment January 23, 2012 – February 22, 2012
- Mill Creek Bacteria and Pearl Lake Nutrients(Upper Mississippi Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment January 9, 2012 – February 8, 2012
- 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
- 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.
- Redwood River: Fecal Coliform (Minnesota)
- Public Notice open for comment April 25, 2011 – May 25, 2011
- Zumbro River Watershed: Turbidity(Lower Mississippi River Basin)
- Public Notice open for comment October 24, 2011 – November 23, 2011
Approved TMDLs
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
Approved TMDLs and Implementation Plans (wq-iw1-13c)
Map of approved TMDLs in Minnesota
- Map of Approved TMDLs in Minnesota (wq-iw1-13b)
| TMDL Projects | TMDL Approved by U.S. EPA | Implementation Plan Approved by MPCA | Major Basin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Minnesota River TMDL: 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 TMDL: Un-ionized Ammonia | October 29, 2004 | November 2004 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Long Prairie River Watershed TMDL: 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 | June 7, 2007 | November 14, 2007 | Minnesota River Basin |
| Pomme de Terre: Fecal Coliform | 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 | TBD | 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 | TBD | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
| Cedar and McMahon Lakes: Excess Nutrients | February 23, 2012 | TBD | Minnesota River Basin |
| North Fork Crow River, Rice Lake: Excess Nutrients | May 7, 2012 | TBO | Upper Mississippi River Basin |
TMDLs 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
- Deer Creek: Turbidity
- Miller Creek: Temperature & Absence of Trout
- Nemadji River: Turbidity
- Poplar River: Turbidity
Lower Mississippi River Basin
Minnesota River Basin
- Chippewa River: Turbidity
- 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
- Lake Crystal: Excess Nutrients
- 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
- Ann River Watershed: Excess Nutrients and Impaired Biota
- Chisago Lakes: Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators (Metro)
- Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Study
- Sunrise Watershed TMDL: Multiple Impairments
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Watersheds
- Beaver Lake: Excess Nutrients (Metro)
- Bluff Creek: Turbidity and Impaired Fish Biota (Metro)
- Credit River: Turbidity (Metro)
- Elm Creek Watershed - Multiple Impairments
- Sand Creek Watershed: Multiple Impairments
- TCMA Chloride Project
- Upper Mississippi River: Bacteria
Upper Mississippi River Basin
- Lake Osakis Watershed: Excess Nutrients
- Little Rock Creek: Impaired Biota
- Lower Crow River (North Fork): multiple impairments
- Sauk Lake: Excess Nutrients
- Sauk River Chain of Lakes: Excess Nutrients
- Sauk River: Fecal Coliform
- Upper Mississippi River: Bacteria
- Upper Mississippi River Headwaters: Dissolved Oxygen
All projects
Searchable report of all TMDL projects
Use this report to find a specific waterbody, the status of the project it is a part of, the staff contact, schedule, and other information.
- Report of all TMDL Projects (wq-iw1-13) (updated September 2011)
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.
Helpful hints
- Use the “Find” function on the tool bar and type in the name or other identifying characteristic for which you are searching.
- The report organizes TMDL projects into the following order:
- Basin
- Status in order of: restored, approved, underway, not underway
- Alphabetical within status categories
- Note the internet links listed by project status on the top right-hand corner of the first page of this report. These navigate to the TMDL project webpages.
- The last of these four internet links, titled: “MPCA Contact Information,” opens a separate document listing names and contact information for all of the project managers, corresponding to the names which appear in the furthest right column of the report.