Golden Lake TMDL Implementation Plan

Golden Lake is on the 303(d) list of impaired water bodies as being impaired for aquatic recreation, due to excessive nutrients (Table 1). The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for this impairment was approved by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September 2009. Due to Golden Lake's naturally high tannin concentrations, the lake has a brownish tint that limits light penetration. This was noted in the 1982 study, "Management alternatives report on the diagnostic – feasibility study for Golden Lake, Anoka County, MN." In a 1987 study (Circle Pines 1987), light was measured with a photometer and was used to calculate the light extinction coefficient in Golden Lake. It was concluded that photoinhibition of macrophytes from humics is occurring.