Upper Mississippi Clearwater River: County Ditch #44 to Lake Betsy Dissolved Oxygen TMDL

The MPCA found that the Clearwater River between Clear Lake and Lake Betsy, reach ID 07010203-549 located in Meeker County, Minnesota, is impaired and does not meet Minnesota water quality standards for dissolved oxygen (DO). This reach was placed on the 303(d) list in 2004 because monitoring data have revealed that DO concentrations sometimes fall below the state standard of 5 milligrams per liter (mg/L) which can impair aquatic habitat. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to set Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters and determine load reductions needed to achieve standards. This report presents the DO TMDL for the Clearwater River between Clear Lake and Lake Betsy, river miles 35.3 to 25.0. The goal of this TMDL study was to develop an implementation plan with sufficient BMPs to achieve the necessary load reductions to meet the State standard for DO. The Clearwater River Watershed District's (CRWD's) ultimate goal in doing TMDLs is improved water quality within the CRWD, specifically water quality that meets or exceeds state standards.