Upper/Lower Red Lakes Site-Specific Standard Data Gap

The purpose of this project is to gather data specific to developing a site-specific standard for phosphorus for Upper and Lower Red Lakes. These are large shallow lakes that are located in an area where no shallow lake standard exists. Because of these lakes' unique characteristics, it is believed that a site-specific standard is more appropriate than the deep lake standards that currently exist. This project will include additional chemistry and flow monitoring of tributaries to the lakes, as well as outflow of Lower Red Lake to the Red Lake River. Flow monitoring of the tributaries will require specialized equipment due to back flow conditions that exist in these tributaries at times of high winds and the flat nature of the topography. This additional monitoring will be utilized to enhance the lake and watershed models for use in developing the site-specific phosphorus standard for these two lakes.