Minnesota Water Quality Assessment Report

Assessed Waters of Minnesota by Watershed

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Features

Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Summary Results

Minnesota (2008)

	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Wetlands (Acres)
	Size of Water
Good Waters	2,755.1	107,417.0
Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses	8.3	282.0
Threatened Waters
TMDL completed
TMDL alternative
Non-pollutant impairment
TMDL needed
Impaired Waters	10,287.1	3,481,014.5	678.0
TMDL completed	1,922.7	1,165,700.0
TMDL alternative
Non-pollutant impairment	7.3
TMDL needed	8,357.2	2,315,314.5	678.0
New TMDLs completed	850.8	38,087.0	.0
Remaining TMDLs needed	7,506.4	2,277,227.5	678.0

Total Assessed Waters	13,042.2	3,588,431.5	678.0
Total Waters	91,944.0	4,500,000.0	Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed	14.2	79.7	Unavailable

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Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008

Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Minnesota Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Miles

Assessed	13,042.2
Unassessed	78,901.8
Total Miles	91,944.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Miles

Good	2,755.1
Threatened	.0
Impaired	10,287.1
Total Miles Assessed	13,042.2

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Miles

All TMDLs completed	2,773.4
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	7.3
TMDL needed	7,506.4
Total Threatened and Impaired	10,287.1

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Minnesota Rivers and Streams 2008

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table

Designated Use	Miles Assessed	Percent Good	Percent Threatened	Percent Impaired	% Good
					% Threatened
					% Impaired
Class 2a Aquatic Recreation	203.4	50.6	.0	49.4
Class 2a Cold Water Aquatic Consumption	116.5	.0	.0	100.0
Class 2a Cold Water Aquatic Life	345.6	11.2	.0	88.8
Class 2b Aquatic Recreation	3,465.4	22.9	.0	77.1
Class 2b Warm Water Aquatic Consumption	3,473.3	.0	.0	100.0
Class 2b Warm Water Aquatic Life	8,591.6	40.0	.0	60.0
Class 2bd Aquatic Recreation	349.2	68.1	.0	31.9
Class 2bd Warm Water Aquatic Consumption	1,122.2	.0	.0	100.0
Class 2bd Warm Water Aquatic Life	818.0	36.3	.0	63.7
Class 2c Aquatic Recreation	501.5	2.6	.0	97.4
Class 2c Warm Water Aquatic Consumption	26.7	.0	.0	100.0
Class 2c Warm Water Aquatic Life	1,170.6	32.4	.0	67.6
Class 7 Limited Resource Value Waters	27.1	.0	.0	100.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Minnesota Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Turbidity	Turbidity	4,763.7
Mercury in Fish Tissue	Mercury	4,617.1
Fecal Coliform	Pathogens	3,372.0
Fish Bioassessments	Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	2,076.5
Dissolved Oxygen	Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	1,221.4
PCB(s) in Fish Tissue	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	1,185.8
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments	Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	539.2
Mercury in Water Column	Mercury	432.0
Arsenic	Metals (other than Mercury)	146.5
pH	pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	127.3
Chloride	Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	109.1
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Fish Tissue	Toxic Organics	84.8
Ammonia, Un-ionized	Ammonia	77.7
PCB in Water Column	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	43.2
Lack of a Coldwater Assemblage	Other Cause	38.1
DDT	Pesticides	19.1
Dieldrin	Pesticides	19.1
Toxaphene	Pesticides	12.6
Dioxin (Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD)	Dioxins	12.6
Temperature, Water	Temperature	9.6
Acetochlor	Toxic Organics	9.2

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Minnesota Rivers and Streams 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Miles Threatened or Impaired
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics	Atmospheric Deposition	3,768.7
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	1,232.6
Wildlife Other Than Waterfowl	Natural/Wildlife	1,210.7
Manure Runoff	Agriculture	1,200.1
Municipal Point Source Discharges	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	1,101.7
Livestock (Grazing Or Feeding Operations)	Agriculture	1,075.4
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	753.1
Waterfowl	Natural/Wildlife	663.8
Wastes From Pets	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	605.8
Sewage Discharges In Unsewered Areas	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	588.9
Permitted Runoff From Confined Animal Feeding Operations (Cafos)	Agriculture	567.0
Animal Feeding Operations (Nps)	Agriculture	534.1
Wet Weather Discharges (Non-Point Source)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	484.3
Land Application Of Wastewater Biosolids (Non-Agricultural)	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	348.2
Rural (Residential Areas)	Other	218.8
Wet Weather Discharges (Point Source And Combination Of Stormwater, Sso Or Cso)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	191.8
Natural Sources	Natural/Wildlife	153.5
Non-Point Source	Unspecified Nonpoint Source	121.0
Agriculture	Agriculture	89.1
Industrial Point Source Discharge	Industrial	85.8
Impacts From Land Application Of Wastes	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	72.7
Rangeland Grazing	Agriculture	62.7
Septage Disposal	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	24.1
Unspecified Urban Stormwater	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	21.9
Upstream Source	Other	21.9
Crop Production (Crop Land Or Dry Land)	Agriculture	21.9
Unspecified Unpaved Road Or Trail	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	13.1
Sand/Gravel/Rock Mining Or Quarries	Resource Extraction	13.1
Unrestricted Cattle Access	Agriculture	13.1
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related)	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	11.2
Yard Maintenance	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	11.2
Salt Storage Sites	Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	11.2

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Minnesota Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Acres

Assessed	3,588,431.5
Unassessed	911,568.5
Total Acres	4,500,000.0

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Acres

Good	107,417.0
Threatened	.0
Impaired	3,481,014.5
Total Acres Assessed	3,588,431.5

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Acres

All TMDLs completed	1,203,787.0
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	2,277,227.5
Total Threatened and Impaired	3,481,014.5

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Minnesota Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table

Designated Use	Acres Assessed	Percent Good	Percent Threatened	Percent Impaired	% Good
					% Threatened
					% Impaired
Class 2b Aquatic Recreation	930,273.0	48.3	.0	51.7
Class 2b Warm Water Aquatic Consumption	3,365,857.5	.0	.0	100.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Minnesota Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Mercury in Fish Tissue	Mercury	3,365,140.5
PCB(s) in Fish Tissue	Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	1,627,559.5
Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators	Nutrients	480,679.0
Mercury in Water Column	Mercury	6,968.0
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Fish Tissue	Toxic Organics	1,923.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Minnesota Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source	Probable Source Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics	Atmospheric Deposition	1,531,834.5
Non-Point Source	Unspecified Nonpoint Source	1,029.0
Unspecified Urban Stormwater	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	813.0
Waterfowl	Natural/Wildlife	813.0
Internal Nutrient Recycling	Natural/Wildlife	813.0
Municipal Point Source Discharges	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	813.0
On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems)	Municipal Discharges/Sewage	813.0
Golf Courses	Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)	813.0
Rural (Residential Areas)	Other	813.0
Crop Production (Crop Land Or Dry Land)	Agriculture	813.0
Wildlife Other Than Waterfowl	Natural/Wildlife	813.0
Littoral/Shore Area Modifications (Non-Riverine)	Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)	813.0
Livestock (Grazing Or Feeding Operations)	Agriculture	813.0
Yard Maintenance	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	216.0
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers	Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	216.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Minnesota Wetlands 2008

Description of this table

Assessed Status	Acres
Pie chart not displayed because total size for Wetlands is unavailable.
Assessed	678.0
Unassessed	Unavailable
Total Acres	Unavailable

Description of this table

Attainment Status	Acres

Good	.0
Threatened	.0
Impaired	678.0
Total Acres Assessed	678.0

Description of this table

TMDL Development Status	Acres

All TMDLs completed	.0
TMDL alternative	.0
Non-pollutant impairment	.0
TMDL needed	678.0
Total Threatened and Impaired	678.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Individual Designated Use Support
Minnesota Wetlands 2008

* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.

Description of this table

Designated Use	Acres Assessed	Percent Good	Percent Threatened	Percent Impaired	% Good
					% Threatened
					% Impaired
Class 2d Wetland Aquatic Life	678.0	.0	.0	100.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Causes of Impairment
Minnesota Wetlands 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment	Cause of Impairment Group	Acres Threatened or Impaired
Aquatic Plant Bioassessments	Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	651.0
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments	Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	61.0

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Site-specific Targeted Monitoring Results

Probable Sources
Minnesota Wetlands 2008

No probable sources of impairments reported.

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Minnesota Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment Group	Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
NOTE: Click on the underlined Cause of Impairment Group to see a list of specific state causes of impairment making up the Cause of Impairment Group. See also Pollution categories summary document (PDF) (20 pp, 557K, About PDF) for brief, non-technical descriptions of general cause categories.
Cause of Impairment Group	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Wetlands (Acres)
Ammonia	77.7
Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	2,213.8		678.0
Dioxins	12.6
Mercury	4,757.5	3,365,271.5
Metals (other than Mercury)	146.5
Nutrients		480,679.0
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	1,221.4
Other Cause	38.1
Pathogens	3,372.0
Pesticides	19.1
pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	127.3
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	1,195.0	1,627,559.5
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	109.1
Temperature	9.6
Toxic Organics	94.0	1,923.0
Turbidity	4,763.7

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Minnesota Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008

Description of this table

Probable Source Group	Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments
NOTE: Click on the underlined Probable Source Group to see a list of specific state Probable Sources making up the Probable Source Group.
Probable Source Group	Rivers and Streams (Miles)	Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres)	Wetlands (Acres)
Agriculture	1,323.3	813.0
Atmospheric Deposition	3,768.7	1,531,834.5
Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification)		813.0
Industrial	85.8
Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks	432.1
Municipal Discharges/Sewage	1,283.8	813.0
Natural/Wildlife	1,364.2	813.0
Other	240.7	813.0
Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating)		813.0
Resource Extraction	13.1
Unspecified Nonpoint Source	121.0	1,029.0
Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater	1,334.5	1,029.0

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Minnesota TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008

No TMDL Alternatives reported.

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Minnesota Previously 303(d)-Listed Waters Now Attaining All Applicable Water Quality Standards

Description of this table

Year Attaining	Number of Waters Attaining	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of Waters Attaining" value for a detailed list of those previously 303(d)-listed waters now attaining all applicable water quality standards.
2004	23	28
2006	5	5
2008	122	123

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Minnesota Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters

Description of this table

Cause of Impairment Group Name	Number of Causes of Impairment Reported
NOTE: Click on a cause of impairment (e.g. pathogens) to see the specific state-reported causes that are grouped to make up this category. Click on the "Number of Causes of Impairment Reported" to see a list of waters with that cause of impairment.
Nutrients	329
Mercury	298
Turbidity	283
Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota	150
Pathogens	147
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	143
Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion	62
Toxic Organics	21
Pesticides	13
pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions	10
Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates	6
Ammonia	5
Other Cause	4
Dioxins	3
Algal Growth	2
Temperature	1

Total: 1,477 Causes of Impairment

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Minnesota Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant

This chart includes TMDLs since October 1, 1995.

Description of this table

Pollutant	Number of TMDLs	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Pollutant" value to see associated listed waters for which a TMDL was developed. Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs" value to see a listing of those TMDLs for the pollutant.
Mercury	1,096	1,117
Fecal Coliform	104	107
Phosphorus, Total	86	91
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	56	56
Phosphorus	13	13
Carbonaceous Bod	7	7
Fecal	7	7
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)	3	3
Sediment	3	5
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)	2	2
Chloride	2	2
Oxygen Demand	2	3
Sediment Oxygen Demand	1	1
Temperature	1	1
Total Ammonia	1	1

Total: 1,384 TMDLs; 1,416 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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Minnesota Cumulative Number of TMDLs

EPA Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30.

Description of this table

Fiscal Year	Number of TMDLs	Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed
NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs Completed" value for a detailed list of the TMDLs for the fiscal year.
2003	20	20
2004	2	2
2005	7	7
2006	24	24
2007	541	556
2008	516	525
2009	56	58
2010	132	132
2011	31	31
2012	51	52
2013	4	9

Total: 1,384 TMDLs; 1,416 Causes of Impairment Addressed

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TMDL Document Search

Full Text Search of TMDL Documents

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