Washington Conservation District: Water Monitoring - Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program

LAKE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM

Lake water quality monitoring is conducted on many lakes in Washington County as a part of the Metropolitan Council's Citizen Assisted Lake Monitoring Program (CAMP). The Met Council also produces an annual Lakes Water Quality Summary. WCD staff monitors the water clarity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and nutrients on a monthly or bi-monthly basis in each.

The data gathered is provided to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to determine if water resources are not meeting water quality standards and criteria. If these resources are not meeting these standards and criteria, they are classified as "impaired." Once an impairment is determined, a study known as a TMDL or Total Maximum Daily Load must be performed to determine the stressor or pollutant causing the impairment. Once the problem is identified, a plan is developed to determine how much less of the stressor(s) or pollutant(s) need to prevented from reaching the water resource to meet water quality standards and criteria. Download a map of impaired waters in Washington County.

Lake	Lake Grade / Year	Watershed
Big Carnelian	A (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Big Marine	A (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Clear	A (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
East Boot	A (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Lake Elmo	A (2009)	Valley Branch
Lake Jane	A (2009)	Valley Branch
Little Carnelian	A (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Olson	A (2009)	Valley Branch
Square	A (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Sylvan (Halfbreed)	A (2009)	Comfort Lake - Forest Lake
West Boot	A (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Bass	B (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Cloverdale	B (2009)	Valley Branch
DeMontreville	B (2009)	Valley Branch
Edith	B (2009)	Valley Branch
Forest	B (2009)	Comfort Lake - Forest Lake
Jellum's	B (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Lily	B (2009)	Middle St. Croix
McKusick	B (2009)	Middle St. Croix
Powers	B (2009)	South Washington
Sand	B (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Silver	B (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Bone	C (2009)	Comfort Lake - Forest Lake
Fish	C (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Long	C (2009)	Brown's Creek
Masterman	C (2009)	Brown's Creek
McDonald	C (2009)	Valley Branch
North & South Twin	C (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Turtle	C (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Wilmes	C (2009)	South Washington
Benz	D (2009)	Brown's Creek
Carol	D (2008)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Louise	D (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Colby	F (2008)	South Washington
Loon	F (2009)	Carnelian Marine-St. Croix
Markgrafs	F (2009)	South Washington

Links

Metropolitan Council's CAMP Program

www.metrocouncil.org/environment/
RiversLakes/Lakes/index.htm

Metropolitan Council's EIMS (Environmental Information Management System)

http://es.metc.state.mn.us/eims/

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

www.pca.state.mn.us/index.cfm

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Environmental Data Access

www.pca.state.mn.us/data/eda/index.cfm

Environmental Protection Agency's STORET Environmental Database