West Fork Des Moines River and Heron Lake TMDL Implementation Plan

In 2003, the MPCA, Cottonwood County, and HLWD made the determination that it was in the best interests of both local organizations to conduct a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study in partnership. Initial efforts were conducted through a Clean Water Partnership Grant. In 2005, Barr Engineering was hired to write the TMDL Report. EPA approved the TMDL assessment in December 2008. Section 2 of this plan summarizes the findings of the TMDL assessment. To meet the water quality goals, a 10 percent to 86 percent reduction in bacteria, a 20 percent to 90 percent reduction in turbidity, and a 79 percent reduction in phosphorus is needed. The full report can be found online at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/projectwestforkdesmoines. html.