Martin and Typo Lakes Impaired Waters Study

A study of Typo and Martin Lakes has been recently conducted to quantify the sources of water quality impairment to these lakes. Both lakes are on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's 303(d) List of Impaired waters for the nutrient phosphorus, which causes algae blooms.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)is mandated by the US Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) study on impaired waters. The end product of the study is an estimate of pollutants from all sources and a prescription for remedial action that should bring the lake up to regional water quality standards. The Anoka Conservation District is working with MPCA to conduct this TMDL study.

Current status:

As of 4/9/10, the study has been completed,including the public involvement phase. The report was submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in late 2005. The MPCA delayed approving this or any other shallow lake TMDL until they finished updating their guidance and rules for shallow lake TMDLs. The process was completed in early 2008. In the interim, the SRWMO and ACD did an additional study to fine-tune our understanding. MPCA provided additional funding to update the TMDL with the new information, as well as address new comments from the MPCA. Currently, the MPCA has concerns that the modeling for this TMDL may need refinement. Their staff will be working in 2010 to refine the model. In late 2010, the study should be ready for the approvals process and final approvals are anticipated for late 2010 or early 2011.

The Lakes:

Typo and Martin Lakes are located in northeast Anoka County. Typo Lake extends northward into Isanti County. Typo Lake outlets into Typo Creek, which meanders about 1.9 miles south into Martin Lake. The lakes are being studied together because of their hydrological connection.

Typo Lake

Typo Lake has a surface area of 290 acres and maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake is highly eutrophic (nutrient rich) and experiences severe algae blooms throughout the summer. In 2003 the mean secchi depth was 0.9 feet and mean total phosphorus was 0.210 mg/l. The lake is stocked with walleye (19% of fish biomass) but common carp are the dominant fish species, comprising 50% of the biomass. Very little aquatic vegetation is present in this lake. Typo Lake's shoreline is very lightly developed, and receives very little recreational use because of it's shallow nature, mucky bottom, and poor water quality.

Martin Lake

Martin Lake, August 2003

Martin Lake has a surface area of 223 acres and a maximum depth of 20 feet. This lake is also eutrophic in nature, and experiences periodic algae blooms as intense as those on Typo Lake, but the severe blooms are shorter in duration. In 2003 the lake had a mean secchi depth of 3.0 feet and total phosphorus of 0.083 mg/l. Like Typo lake, there is little aquatic vegetation in Martin. Martin Lake is almost completely surrounded by homes and receives a moderate amount of recreational traffic.

The Study:

A number of factors are suspected to be impacting water quality on these lakes. These factors include phosphorus release from ditched wetlands undergoing specific hydrologic regimes, lakeshore septic systems, rough fish, watershed-wide land use practices, shoreline land use practices, and lake sediments. The purpose of this study is to quantify the amount of phosphorus coming from each source and develop efficient remedial strategies.

The work being done to accomplish this includes an extensive network of water monitoring in the lakes and tributary streams, watershed land use analysis, shoreland mapping, fish community analysis, and utilization of recently conducted shoreline septic inventories. Computer modeling will be used to integrate the data and estimate phosphorus from each possible source.

The portion of this study that focused on Typo Lake was conducted in 2001. In 2003 additional work occurred, focusing on Martin Lake. The final report for this study integrates the results of all work on both lakes, and provide greater insight than study of either lake alone.

Study Timeline:

2001 - Study of Typo Lake

2003 - Study of Martin Lake, with follow up work on Typo

2004 - Computer modeling, draft report preparation.

2005 - Hold public input meetings and solicit input from interested agencies. Submit a semi-final draft fo MPCA for review.

2006-Draft TMDL on public notice. Begin preparing an Implementation Plan. Pursue funding for lake improvement projects.

Some of the Competed Work:

Water quality monitoring (map of sites)

Typo Lake water quality summary

Martin Lake water quality summary

Selected stream monitoring results

Shoreline mapping (Typo Lake) (Martin Lake)

Land use mapping (Typo Lake) (Martin Lake)

Study contributors :

The Anoka Conservation District is executing this study through grants from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Anoka County Ag Preserves Grant Program. Other cooperators include the Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization and Martin Lake Association. For questions or comments, please contact Jamie Schurbon or call 763-434-2030 ext 12.

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