Lake Assessment Program - Mink and Somers Lakes, Wright County

Hink and Somers are connected lakes located in Wright County. Combined they make up a fairly large lake (430 acres). Land use in the watershed is characterized by cultivated uses (60 percent) and water and marsh (26 percent). This land use composition is fairly typical for lakes in this region of the state - North Central Hardwood Forests ecoregion. Hink and Somers Lakes were sampled during the summer of 1993 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (HPCA) staff and citizens from the Association of Mink and Somers (Association). Water quality data collected during the study reveal a summer mean (mean of both Mink/Somers lakes) total phosphorus concentration of 124 ?g/L, mean chlorophyll a of 84 ?g/L and Secchi transparency of two feet. These values are not within-the range of values exhibited by reference lakes in this ecoregion. Total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and Secchi transparency help to characterize the trophic status of a lake. For Mink/Somers Lakes, these measures indicate hypereutrophic conditions.