11/28/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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data which the District has accumulated can be utilized to define lake capabilities and expectations in order to develop a more specific water quality management plan. MPCA Water Quality Standards The MPCA has established a system of classification of intra -state waters, whereby standards of quality are based on different categories of use. The standards are outlined in Table 3 -12. Rice Creek, Bald Eagle, Centerville, and Otter Lakes are all classified as 1C, 2Bd, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, or 6. All remaining waters are classified under M.R. 7050.0430 as 2B, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5, or 6. Assessment of Lake Capability Table 3 -8 provided an overview of the capability of the large open waterbodies in the District. Many of the District's lakes are more appropriately managed as Type V wetlands. These may have "poor" water quality when compared to recreational lakes, however, it is not realistic for them to have good quality due to their shallow nature. For a detailed analysis of this type, see the RCWD "Report on 1992 Water Quality Monitoring (February 1993)." GROUNDWATER RESOURCES The RCWD is located over very substantial groundwater reserves. The major aquifers include: glacial sand and gravel, the Prairie du Chien - Jordan, and the Mt. Simon - Hinckley. The Prairie du Chien - Jordan supplies 75 percent of the groundwater pumped in the Twin City metropolitan area, while the Mt. Simon - Hinckley provides 15 percent. Bedrock groundwater in the northern portion of the Watershed District generally flows toward the west; in the southern portion, the groundwater flows to the southwest. Groundwater recharge areas are not well known in the RCWD. Glacial sand and gravel aquifers are generally recharged locally. The Mt. Simon - Hinckley aquifer is recharged outside the Watershed. It has generally been documented that the Prairie du Chien aquifer does recharge within the Watershed Recent completion of groundwater atlases and protection plans for Ramsey and Washington Counties will assist in better understanding the area hydrogeology. 3-29 10/97