In 2006, the MPCA listed Fish and Schwanz Lakes as impaired for aquatic recreation under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The main cause for this impairment is excess nutrients in the lakes. Excess nutrients such as phosphorus from stormwater runoff create poor water quality conditions causing summer algal blooms, which limit recreational activities. Since that time efforts by the city of Eagan have improved water quality in Schwanz Lake resulting in the MPCA removing the lake from the impaired waters list. To address the impaired Fish Lake a TMDL was completed and approved by EPA in 2010. To maintain good water quality in Schwanz Lake the city proposed several water quality improvement projects. The final project culminated in a report entitled "Fish Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Schwanz Lake Nutrient Management Report and Implementation Plan."
A subsequent project under the Clean Water Partnership grant program was launched in 2012 to address several impaired lakes (Carlson, Fitz, Holz, and LeMay) and several lakes that are not on the impaired waters list but warrant protection (Bald, Bur Oaks, Cliff, Hay, LP-30, North, O'Leary, and Quigley). The project report contains detailed plans for implementation to restore and protect the subject lakes: 
Eagan Lakes: Eagan Neighborhood Lakes TMDL and Management Plans Report (June 2015).
Map and location
Lakes from both projects are located in Eagan (Dakota County) in the southern Twin Cities metro area. The lakes lie in the Eagan-Inver Grove Heights Watershed Management Organization subwatershed of the Lower Minnesota River watershed in the Minnesota River Basin.
TMDL reports and implementation plans
Eagan neighborhood lakes
Fish Lake and Schwanz Lake
- Fish Lake and Schwanz Lake TMDL: Project overview
- Fish Lake Nutrient Impairment TMDL and Schwanz Lake Nutrient Management Plan
- Fish Lake Phosphorus TMDL: EPA approval letter (Sept. 2010)
- Fish Lake Nutrient TMDL - Implementation Plan
Meetings and events
None at this time
Links
- Minnesota’s Impaired Waters and TMDLs
City of Eagan Lakes: Local sponsor - City of Eagan- Minnesota River Basin
- Eagan - Inver Grove Heights Watershed Management Organization
Information contact
Eric Alms, Project Manager
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-757-2589
eric.alms@state.mn.us
Eric Macbeth
Water Resources Manager
City of Eagan
3501 Coachman Point
Eagan, Minnesota 55122
651-675-5300
emacbeth@cityofeagan.com