Lower Wild Rice River Turbidity Final Total Maximum Daily Load Report

In 2006 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) listed the Lower Wild Rice River as impaired for excess turbidity. This report addresses the turbidity impairment for the Wild Rice River, from the confluence with the South Branch of the Wild Rice River to the Red River of the North. Other waters within the Wild Rice River watershed listed as impaired will be addressed through subsequent TMDL reports. The Lower Wild Rice River lies within the Wild Rice River watershed of the Red River Basin of the North. This portion of the river is 30.58 miles in length and is located entirely within Norman County, Minnesota. Land use is dominated by agricultural cropping and is extensively drained for that purpose. This TMDL report used a flow duration curve approach to determine the pollutant loading capacity of the Lower Wild Rice River under varying flow regimes. This approach was used to calculate general allocations necessary to meet water quality standards for the impaired stream reach.