^tDS%
NONPOINT SOIREE S1CEESS STORY
VTr 1.0 m Secchi disk depth, < 60
|ig/L total phosphorus, and < 20 |ig/L chlorophylI-o.
Because it exceeded eutrophication criteria, the
lake was added to the Clean Water Act (CWA) sec-
tion 303(d) list of impaired waters in 2002.
Story Highlights
Actions that contributed to a reduction in phosphorus
loading include both in-lake management and external
loading reduction by the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek
Watershed District and local partners. Implementation
included:
• In-lake alum treatment of upstream Round Lake
'MitchelllRpinj
Boat Landing
RiceilVla^lilUak'elRark!
Figure 1. In-lake weed harvesting locations (red outlined
areas) in Mitchell Lake, Minnesota.
•	Stormwater management in Mitchell Lake watershed
•	Canada goose management
•	Installation of various stormwater BMPs, including
rain barrels, rain gardens and pervious pavement
•	Shoreland restoration and vegetation projects
(Figures 2 and 3)

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Mitchell Lake Summer Total Phosphorus History
120


80














V


¦

















1

0













2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
	State Standard	Year
Figure 4. Mitchell Lake phoshorus data (Source: City of
Eden Prairie).
Results
Review of recent data (2006-2013) indicates Mitchell
Lake had growing season averages of 57 [ig/L total
phosphorus, 20.7 |ig/L chlorophyll-o and 1.3 m Secchi
disk depth. Based on these results, Mitchell Lake is
meeting water quality standards (Figure 4); therefore,
it was approved for removal from the draft 2018 CWA
section 303(d) list of impaired waters.
Partners and Funding
Over 500 local stakeholders were involved in the
improvement of Mitchell Lake, including community
members, the city of Eden Prairie, Mitchell Lake
Association, Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed
District, University of Minnesota, and Hennepin
County.
Support for these projects came in the form of public
participation, iandowner cooperation, monitoring,
the Implementation of BMPs, and more. To keep the
progress moving forward, these stakeholders were
Involved in the planning for the 10-year period that
began 2016.
Figure 2. Native wildflowers were re-established along
the lake shore.
Figure 3. New plantings help to stabilize the shoreland
zone of Mitchell Lake.
•	Curlyleaf pondweed and Eurasian milfoil removal
•	Annual lake cleanup events
•	Public participation and outreach
In-lake water quality monitoring will continue to
evaluate trends over time and to inform the need for
modifying in-lake management. Also, opportunities for
additional stormwater treatment will continue to be
explored.
&
PROt*°
2
o
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841-F-19-001M
April 2019
For additional information contact:
Chris Zadak
Minnesota Pollution Control
651-757-2837 • chris.zadak@state.mn.us

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