(KNSI) – The Clearwater River Watershed District has removed two area lakes from the impaired waters list. Lake Augusta and Union Lake have been removed from the list after more than three decades of water quality improvement projects.
Lake Augusta is in the Clearwater Chain of Lakes south of St. Cloud. Union Lake is on the Wright-Meeker county line. Both were placed on the impaired lakes list for nutrient contamination and frequent algae blooms.
Lake Augusta had nutrient levels five times higher than the acceptable limit in 1975 when it was placed on the list. Phosphorus concentrations have declined and water clarity has beaten the deep-lake standard for the last ten years.
In the case of Union Lake, a report from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources claims landowners’ actions had the most direct impacts on the lake’s improvement. One landowner converted row crops to pastureland, while another spearheaded rough fish removal in a downstream lake.
___
Copyright 2022 Leighton Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!