Lino Lakes Chain of Lakes Nutrient TMDL

This Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study addresses nutrient impairments in the Lino Lakes chain of lakes. The goal of this TMDL is to quantify the pollutant reductions needed to meet state water quality standards for nutrients in George Watch (02-0005), Marshan (02-0007), Reshanau (02-0009), Rice (02-0008) and Baldwin Lakes (02-0013). The Lino Lakes chain of lakes is a regional water resource located in Anoka County, Minnesota, in the Rice Creek watershed, specifically in the city of Lino Lakes. The lakes are highly used recreational water bodies that support fishing and boating as well as provide aesthetic values. Four of the lakes are wholly or partially located within the Rice Creek Regional Park Reserve. The drainage area to the lake chain is 12,000 acres of suburban, regional park, undeveloped wetland, and agricultural land. The lakes are connected to each other by channels of varying lengths. George Watch, Marshan, Rice, and Baldwin Lakes are part of a longer flow-through chain of lakes receiving outflow from Peltier Lake upstream, while Reshanau receives outflow from some smaller lakes and discharges to Rice Lake. The lake system discharges into Rice Creek, which ultimately discharges into the Mississippi River. Water quality is poor with frequent algal blooms. All of the lakes in this study are shallow lakes, with maximum depths generally less than 10 feet. Wasteload and load allocations to meet state standards indicate that nutrient load reductions ranging from 65 to 85 percent would be required to consistently meet standards under average precipitation conditions. To achieve these reductions, Peltier Lake must achieve its TMDL goal and internal loads in the chain of lakes must be significantly reduced through a combination of aquatic vegetation and fishery management.