Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs
TMDL Project: Como Lake — Excess Nutrients
Background
The Como Lake watershed is located in the north-central portion of the Capitol Region Watershed District and is within the Upper Mississippi Watershed. This area lies entirely within the North Central Hardwood Forest Ecoregion. Como Lake is located in Saint Paul, and the watershed is located within three municipalities in Ramsey County.
Como Lake has a 1783-acre watershed and is defined as a shallow lake according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The majority of the watershed’s water contribution to Como Lake is delivered through an extensive piped stormwater system consisting of 22 stormsewers discharging directly into the lake. A large portion of the northern runoff, including the golf course, runs through a series of two constructed wetland detention ponds. Gottfried’s Pit collects the drainage from parts of Roseville, Falcon Heights, Ramsey County right-of-ways, and the city of Saint Paul. Gottfried’s Pit is pumped to Como Lake. Como Lake discharges into the Trout Brook stormsewer and on to the Mississippi River.
In 2002, Como Lake was placed on the MPCA’s impaired waters list for excess nutrients. Also in 2002, the Capitol Region Watershed District developed a management plan for Como Lake. The Como Lake Strategic Management Plan identified important management issues through input from key stakeholder groups, prioritized the issues and associated goals, and identified implementation activities. The Como Lake Strategic Management Plan was used as the basis for this TMDL.
Map and location
Como Lake is located in Ramsey County, in the Mississippi River - Twin Cities watershed within the Upper Mississippi River basin.
For additional maps, see the Google map below or use the MPCA's Impaired Waters Viewer.
TMDL report and implementation plan
Fact Sheet (wq-iw11-05a)- Final TMDL Report (wq-iw11-05e)
- EPA Approval Letter (December 23, 2010) (wq-iw11-05g)
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.
- February 17, 2010 - MS4 Meeting, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Capitol Region Watershed District Office, St. Paul
- Meeting Materials (wq-iw11-05p.pdf)
Links
- Capitol Region
- DNR Lake Finder
- MPCA Silver Lake EDA
- City of St. Paul
- City of Roseville
- City of Falcon Heights
Information contact
Brooke Asleson
Regional Division-Watershed Section
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-757-2205
Brooke.Asleson@pca.state.mn.us