Water Quality

Water quality is what we all want.

Contamination of the lakes and rivers could lead to increased blooms of aquatic plants, murky and green water, and poor conditions for swimming, boating, and fishing. Here are some of the more significant things that affect the water:

  • Environmental stresses such as new development, more year-round residents, and the replacement of small cottages with large homes

  • Reductions in surrounding forests

  • Reductions in natural shorelines

  • Landscaping that leaches lawn nutrients into the water

  • Zebra mussels (AIS) that increase algae and may lead to blue-green algae

  • Invasive plants out-competing native plants

  • Failing septic systems

  • Farm runoff, road salt and acid rain

Jamie Juelfs (612 -441 -1572) and Jon Folkedahl are the SRCLA Water Quality contacts.

As you can see, the problem is broad and your actions alone cannot solve water quality issues. But here are some of the actions that you can take to protect and improve water quality:

  • Avoid the use of phosphorus-based fertilizers (banned in Minnesota)

  • Avoid household products, such as shampoos and detergents, containing phosphorus

  • Control stormwater runoff on your property

  • Keep your shoreline and stream bank natural or reclaim more natural shoreline

  • Maintain your septic system

  • Avoid attempting to treat aquatic weed beds on your own

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