Lake of the Woods
Excess phosphorous, diminished water clarity and numerous algae blooms, has the Lake of the Woods on a draft list of impaired waters prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The MPCA assesses the quality of all surface water in Minnesota, and has been tracking the levels of nutrients in the Lake of the Woods since 1999. The lake is green in color and has limited oxygen in its lowest layer of water. A majority of the phosphorous going into the lake is coming from agricultural runoff.
The Rainy River, which contributes about 75 percent to 80 percent of the water flowing into the Lake of the Woods, hasn't been officially assessed yet. The river appears to be becoming murkier, which reduces the penetration of sunlight through the water, affecting the ecosystem.
The river's sediment contains high levels of phosphorous, but some level of phosphorous always appears naturally in watersheds. The MPCA's draft list is subject to public comment and is submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for a final determination.
March 30, 2007 6:48 AM | Category: Cleanup