Lake and Stream Water Quality
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The Commissions monitor flow and water quality in the streams in the watersheds and in the outfalls to the Mississippi River, as well as lake water quality, fish communities and aquatic vegetation. Results are published in an annual Water Quality Report. Water quality in the lakes and streams in the two watersheds is typical of urban waters in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and is dominated by watershed runoff.
2024 Annual Water Quality Report 2023 Annual Water Quality Report and Appendices 2022 Annual Water Quality Report and Appendices 2021 Annual Water Quality Report 2020 Water Quality Report and Appendices 2019 Water Quality Report and Appendices 2018 Water Quality Report and Appendices 2017 Water Quality Report and Appendices 2016 Water Quality Report and Appendices 2015 Water Quality Report Thirteen of the 16 lakes were originally listed as Impaired Waters due to excess nutrients, and TMDLs and Implementation Plans have been approved for all 13 of the lakes. Three of those lakes - Lower Twin, Ryan, and Schmidt - now meet state standards and have been "delisted" from the 303(d) list of Impaired Waters. Two more lakes - Bass and Pomerleau - are being considered for delisting. Shingle Creek is Impaired for chloride, low dissolved oxygen, aquatic life, and E. coli bacteria. Bass Creek is Impaired for chloride and aquatic life. |
The Clean Water Act requires all states to evaluate the conditions of their lakes, streams, and wetlands, and to establish standards for surface water quality. Waters that do not meet a state's standards must be included on the state's 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. When the waters are improved and meet water quality standards, they are eligible for "delisting."
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the Clean Water Act in Minnesota. Find out more about the state's Impaired Waters program here. |
Lake Report Cards
Mississippi River Outfall Water Quality
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In addition to monitoring lakes and streams in the two watersheds, the Commissions also monitor a storm sewer in the West Mississippi Watershed that drains to the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Park. The site is called 65th Avenue and drains about 600 acres of single family, industrial, retail/commercial, and schools and park land, in addition to the Top Golf property.
The pipe is 78 inches at the outfall to the Mississippi River and is monitored for the West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), who has many outfall sites on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and is familiar with monitoring pipes and entering confined spaces. The 65th Ave site has been monitored by MWMO each year since 2020. The annual report, which are published separately from the Commissions' Annual Water Quality Reports since 2022 are below. 2023 65th Ave Annual Report 2022 65th Ave Annual Report |
65th Ave Outfall at the Mississippi River. The outfall is a 78-inch pipe
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