2003-016 Council Resolution - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) establishes water quality standards for • all waters of the state, including surface water. These standards are contained in Minnesota Rules Chapter 7050 and have statewide applicability. The MPCA's statutory authority to adopt water quality standards and to classify waters of the state is found in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 115. Water quality standards represent expectations for how a stream or river could be used under natural conditions. We believe that this authority formed the basis for the inclusion of Bald Eagle, Peltier, George Watch, Marshan and Centerville Lakes in the US Environmental Protection Agency's July 8, 2002 proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) list (under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act) due to excess nutrients. In addition, Both Clearwater and Hardwood Creeks are also included in TMDL list because of impaired biota. The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Water Resource Management Plan states that lakes such as George Watch, Reshanau, Rice and Marshan Lakes should be considered Type 5 wetlands due to their shallow depths, organic bottom material and emergent vegetation. As a result the City views George Watch and Marshan Lakes as functioning properly within their wetland classification and believes they should be removed from the TMDL list. In the case of Centerville lake, approximately 150 acres are tributary to the 455 acre lake (see the enclosed Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve Map). The City believes that a lake occupying 75% of its total drainage area should not be on the TMDL list. The RCWD Plan states that Bald Eagle and Peltier lakes have significant potential for improvement. The City has little influence on the status of Bald Eagle Lake because the City does not have control of a significant drainage area to or surface area of it. RCWD has performed diagnostic /feasibility studies of Peltier Lake. This 465 acre lake sits within a relatively small subwatershed within the Upper Rice Creek Watershed. All of its shoreline in the City is also in the Chain of Lakes Regional Park. City activities contribute drainage impacts to Randeau lake which, in turn, drains into Peltier lake. City activities also contribute drainage impacts to Clearwater and Hardwood Creeks near their discharge points into Peltier lake. However, these contributions are dwarfed by the nearly 100 square miles of drainage contribution to Peltier Lake from the rest of the