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as being vital to area towns The recent development restriction in Annandale and Maple Lake due to impaired waters brings to light the economic impacts of neglecting the health of our lakes, streams and rivers. Annandale and Maple Lake were denied a permit to expand their wastewater treatment system because there was an impaired water downstream of the proposed discharge. The denial means that these communities are not able to grow until a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) study is conducted for the impaired water and a plan is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TMDL is the total allowable load of a given pollutant that a water body can handle without becoming impaired. A water body is impaired when the level of a given pollutant interferes with the designated use of the water. For example, if nutrients are too high in a given lake, swimming opportunities are limited due to the excessive algae caused by high nutrients.  The CRWD recognized early on that clean water was essential to maintaining the economic health of the towns within its borders like Annandale, Kimball, Watkins, and Clearwater. Starting in 2002, the CRWD began meeting with landowners and local and state government representatives to talk about impaired waters in the CRWD. Public participation is a key element of any TMDL Study. Those that participate decide the direction of development. In 2003, the CRWD won a grant from the MPCA to conduct a TMDL to study the District's impaired waters and find ways to reduce the pollutant loads to listed waters including the Clearwater River and Lake Louisa. Currently, the CRWD is collecting data it will need to write the TMDL study. Look for announcements about additional meetings to present the results of the study and to discuss ways to improve the listed water bodies. |
| This page is maintained by the CRWD Board of Managers © Copyright 2007 |
Clearwater River Watershed District Box 481, Annandale, MN 55302 (320) 202-0554 Board Meetings Second Wednesday of the Month 7 p.m., at the Annandale Middle School Fourth Wednesday of the Month - Agenda 6:30 p.m., at Stanley's Restaurant, Kimball |
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