Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan

Along with a Total Maximum Daily Load Study (TMDL) that is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requires a Restoration and Protection Plan that outlines the steps and costs associated with projects designed to improve lake water quality to meet State water quality standards. The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed currently has nine lakes that are on the EPA's 303(d) Impaired Waters List; these lakes are impaired for Excess Nutrients (phosphorus). In addition to those impaired lakes, there are ten other water bodies of concern within the watershed. Within this document, we will outline some of the steps that can be taken to restore the impaired lakes to meet water quality standards and protect the remaining waterbodies from future addition to the Impaired Waters List. The Chisago Lakes Chain of Lakes Watershed TMDL study can be found at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/lupgdd5.