Leech Lake River Watershed Stressor Identification Report

This report documents the efforts that were taken to identify the causes, and to some degree the source(s) of impairments to aquatic biological communities in the Leech Lake River Watershed (LLRW). Three Assessment Unit Identification (AUID) reaches on three streams were brought into the SID process because they were determined to have impaired biological communities via the 2012, Intensive Watershed Monitoring (IWM) and Assessment phase of this Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) project. Upon further investigation of these sites during the SID process, these streams were determined to be stressed by low dissolved oxygen (DO). The Spring Creek and unnamed creek impairments received a CALM categorization of 4D (impairment caused by natural conditions), where the stressor (DO) was determined to be natural. The Necktie River AUID DO impairment is being deferred due to the need for a different DO standard for low gradient, wetland dominated rivers.