Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs

TMDL Project: Elk River Watershed - Multiple Impairments

Background

This TMDL focuses on two lakes and a stretch of river within the Elk River watershed. The lakes are Mayhew Lake, about eight miles northeast of the city of Sauk Rapids, and Big Elk Lake, just northeast of the city of Clear Lake. The river stretch is the Elk River, between Big Elk Lake and the St. Francis River. Mayhew Lake and Big Elk Lake are impaired due to excess nutrients, primarily phosphorus. The Elk River reach is impaired due to excess turbidity and bacteria, primarily E. coli. The MPCA and the Elk River Watershed Association cooperatively developed the TMDL study. The TMDL study began in August 2008 and is projected to be completed in 2012.

Map and location

Elk River watershed is located south eastern portion of the Upper Mississippi Basin, within the Mississippi River-St. Cloud watershed. For a map of this impairment, see the Google map below or the TMDL Maps webpage.

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Google Maps.
However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser.
To view Google Maps, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, and then try again.

TMDL report and implementation plan

• Fact Sheet
• Draft TMDL updated December 2011 (wq-iw8-14b)
• 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. 

Other documents

• Work Plan
•  Phase 1 TMDL Report (wq-iw8-14h)
• Phase 2 TMDL Report (wq-iw8-14i)

Meetings and events

• Elk River Watershed TMDL Public Meeting #1 - March 19, 2009, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Palmer Town Hall, Clear Lake, MN
  • Invitation

See the TMDL Meetings, Events and News page for notices of general interest and event-related information on impaired waters/TMDLs.

Links

• Upper Mississippi Basin

Information contact

Phil Votruba, Project Manager
7678 College Road, Suite 105
Baxter, MN 56425
218-828-6063
phil.votruba@state.mn.us

Tiffany Determan, TMDL Coordinator (ERWA)
14855 Hwy 10
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-1170
tdeterman@sherburneswcd.org