The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will host a series of meetings in October to provide a biennial update of the state's polluted lakes and stream segments.
The draft update adds 287 new polluted waters to the existing list, bringing the current total to 1,469.
Several Hubbard County lakes have been taken off the list after the MPCA lowered total maximum daily load mercury standards in March.
The 2008 impaired waters list proposes the addition of Upper Twin Lake in the aquatic recreation category due to phosphorus levels.
Phosphorus was also cited on 8th Crow Wing, 1st Crow Wing and Portage, affecting aquatic recreation.
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Williams, 10th Crow Wing, Kabekona, Blue and Beauty are on the proposed aquatic consumption list due to mercury in fish tissue.
The listed waters, also known as "impaired waters" under the federal Clean Water Act, do not meet water quality standards. The waters contain pollutants at levels above acceptable limits designed to protect public uses, according to the MPCA.
The listed waters need further study to determine how they can be restored to a healthy condition.
Only a fraction of Minnesota's lakes and streams have been assessed for impairments to date. As the agency gathers more data, other waters may be added to the list.
In recent years, public concern about the number of waters on the list has risen, according to the MPCA. To address issues related to impaired waters, lawmakers passed the Clean Water Legacy Act in 2006. In 2007, the governor proposed and the legislature approved additional funding for water assessment, monitoring, clean up and protection activities.
The proposed 2008 impaired waters list, methodology for listing and regional maps are available on the MPCA's Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/tmdl-303dlisthtml . The list is formally on public notice from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7.
Questions, comments or requests for additional information may be submitted to Howard Markus at MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155 or by phone at 651-296-7295 or by e-mail at howard.markus @pca. state.mn.us.
Public information meetings will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3 at the Brainerd MPCA office, 7678 College Rd., Baxter and Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Detroit Lakes MPCA office, 714 Lake Ave.
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Stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
