Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs
TMDL Project: Clearwater River (UM Basin) — CD #44 to Lake Betsy Bacteria and Lake Nutrients (Clear, Louisa, Scott, Betsy, Union and Marie Lakes)
Background
This project addresses the following seven impairments in the Upper Clearwater River Watershed located in the Upper Mississippi River Basin of Minnesota:
- Six lake nutrient impairments;
- Clearwater River (from County Ditch #44 to Lake Betsy): 1 fecal coliform bacteria impairment.
The Clearwater River Watershed District (CRWD), in cooperation with Wenck Associates Inc. and the MPCA, completed this TMDL study in 2009. It was subsequently approved by the EPA in January of 2010. MPCA has approved the watershed wide Implementation Plan making the CRWD eligible to apply for federal 319 funds and state CWLA funds that can be used for restoration projects and BMPs. Lake reduction goals for Phosphorous range from 26 to 90% to restore lakes to state standards. Required bacteria reductions for the Clearwater River range from 35 to 92%. To reduce phosphorous levels in the lakes, both internal and external load reductions are required. The primary strategies for bacteria reductions will focus on riparian exclusion and agricultural BMPs.
Other CRWD TMDL studies
- Clearwater River, 5 Lakes Nutrients TMDL (Caroline, Augusta, Albion, Henshaw and Swartout)
- Clearwater River, CD #44 to Lake Betsy Dissolved Oxygen
Map and location
Clearwater watershed is located in south central portion of the Upper Mississippi Basin, near St. Cloud, MN.
For a map of this impairment, see the Google map below or use the Impaired Waters Viewer.
TMDL report and implementation plan
Factsheet (wq-iw8-10a)- Final TMDL Report (wq-iw8-10e)
- EPA Approval Letter (January 26, 2010) (wq-iw8-10g)
- TMDL Implementation Plan (Approved by MPCA on May 19, 2010) (wq-iw8-10c)
Other documents
- Phase II Clearwater River from Clear Lake to Lake Betsy Final Report (file size = 40 MB)
- Phase II Clearwater River form Grass Lake to the Mississippi River Final Report (file size = 52 MB)
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
Margaret Leach, Impaired Waters Coordinator
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
7678 College Road, Suite 105
Baxter, MN 56425
218-828-6063
margaret.leach@state.mn.us
Merle Anderson, Administrator
Clearwater River Watershed District
PO Box 481
Annandale, MN 55302
320-274-3935
pacma@frontiernet.net
Dennis Loewen, Assistant Administrator
Clearwater River Watershed District
PO Box 481
Annandale, MN 55302
320-274-3935
loewen.dennis@yahoo.com