Long and Farquar Lakes Nutrient TMDL

In 2002, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) listed Long and Farquar Lakes, located within the City of Apple Valley, MN, as impaired for aquatic recreation under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The main cause for these impairments is excessive nutrients in the lakes. The 303(d) list proposed start date for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study was 2007 with a target completion date of 2011. This TMDL document assesses the nutrient load reductions needed for Long and Farquar Lakes to comply with Minnesota water quality standards. The specific sources of nutrients, target reductions from each source, strategies to achieve the reductions, and the approach to meeting the applicable water quality standards for each lake are discussed in the document. Long and Farquar Lakes (MnDNR Lake ID #s 19-0022-00 and 19-0023-00, respectively) are 34 acres and 67 acres, respectively. Both lakes and their watersheds are located within the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization in the southern part of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Metropolitan area. Long Lake is a shallow lake and is primarily used for non-motorized boating, aesthetic enjoyment by local residents, as well as for wildlife habitat. Farquar Lake, to which Long Lake discharges, is also a shallow lake, used for limited motorized and non-motorized boating, swimming, fishing, and aesthetic enjoyment, as well as for wildlife habitat. Long Lake has public access provided through a City Park located on the west side of the lake. However, the shoreline is not developed and cannot be reached by vehicular traffic. The only access to the park is by pedestrian traffic. Farquar Lake has public access provided through a City Park (Farquar Park) located along the southwest shoreline of the Lake. A fishing pier is present at the Park but there is no developed landing for trailer-mounted boats. The City of Apple Valley currently classifies Farquar Lake as Class II – Indirect Contact Recreation and Long Lake as Class III – Aesthetic/Wildlife, based on the City's own classification system as outlined in its Surface Water Management Plan (City of Apple Valley, 2007).