2010 Assessment of Selected Lakes in Cass County, Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) conducts and supports lake monitoring for a variety of objectives. Staff within the MPCA's Lakes and Streams Monitoring Unit samples approximately 100 lakes per year, coordinates citizen volunteer monitoring through the Citizen Lake Monitoring Program, and manages Surface Water Assessment Grants given to local groups to monitor lake water quality. All of the data from these activities are used to assess the condition of Minnesota lakes. Water quality data are compared to state water quality standards to determine if a given lake is fully supporting or not supporting standards set for recreational use (e.g., swimming, wading, etc.). Lakes not supporting aquatic recreational use are termed 'impaired' and are placed on a list biennially. This list is formally termed the 303(d) list (referencing the section within the federal Clean Water Act that requires us to assess for condition); it is also commonly called the Impaired Waters List. A lake placed on the Impaired Waters List is required to be intensively researched through a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study to determine the source and extent of the pollution problem. The study also requires the development of a restoration plan. The water quality data and the results of the condition assessment are incorporated into a variety of products"