To the editor:
I would like to provide some information relative to comments made about the water quality of the north branch of the Sunrise River at the North Branch City Council meeting last Monday.
The federal Clean Water Act requires states to publish, every two years, an updated list of streams and lakes that are not meeting their designated uses because of excess pollutants. The list, known as the 303(d) list, is based on violations of water quality standards and is organized by river basin. Chisago County is in the St. Croix River basin.
For each pollutant that causes a water body to fail to meet state water quality standards, the federal Clean Water Act requires that a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study be completed. A TMDL study identifies sources of each pollutant that fails to meet water quality standards. Water quality sampling and computer modeling determine how much each pollutant source must reduce its contribution to assure the water quality standard is met.
In the St. Croix River basin, the 2002 303(d) list identified 102 river reaches and lakes that were impaired for various pollutants. The draft 2004 list added six new stream reaches and 15 new lakes from the St. Croix Basin.
Chisago County is project administrator of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) study that is currently underway regarding fecal coliform loading to the north branch of the Sunrise. That reach of the Sunrise River extends from near Weber in Isanti County to its confluence with the main stem of the Sunrise just west of County Road 9. Funding for this project is from the federal Environmental Protection Agency through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Water quality sampling for two seasons has been completed by the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District, a partner in this project. Laboratory analysis has been completed for fecal coliform, phosphorous and total suspended solids. There are five sampling sites on the north branch, one on Hay Creek, and two on the main stem of the Sunrise. This data will provide valuable information regarding fecal coliform loading. Additional monitoring data has been gathered by citizen stream monitors, who regularly sample several sites along the north branch.
The overall objective of the project is to locate the sources of fecal coliform loading, and to develop a plan for remediation. After that plan is approved by the state and federal agencies involved, additional funding will be sought for projects to address and reduce the fecal coliform loading.
Chisago County is currently in the process of writing a land use study for the watershed of the north branch of the Sunrise. In the next few months, a consultant will be hired to review and analyze all data gathered to date and provide guidance on developing the TMDL report.
A steering committee has had several meetings already to review and advise the County on the TMDL process. The committee includes citizens of Chisago and Isanti counties, as well as a representative of the North Branch City Council, the city engineer, Chisago SWCD, MPCA, Minnesota DNR, Wild River State Park, University of Minnesota Extension and volunteer stream monitors.
Regular updates will be provided on the project as we proceed. Information will also be provided as new reaches on the 303(d) list are studied. If there are any questions on this project, please direct them to me at (651) 213-0270 or by e-mail at mdschmi@co.chisago.mn.us.
Mary Darragh Schmitz
Chisago County Local Water Resource Manager
Dept. of Environmental
Services/Zoning

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