Mississippi River Watershed Aitkin - Brainerd Area Josh Hoff & Adam Bourassa

Mississippi River Mississippi River WatershedWatershed

Aitkin - Brainerd Area Aitkin - Brainerd Area

Josh Hoff Josh Hoff & &

Adam BourassaAdam Bourassa

Mississippi RiverMississippi River

Map of WatershedMap of Watershed

Watershed DefinitionWatershed Definition

• A ridge of high land dividing two A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different areas that are drained by different river systems. Also called water river systems. Also called water parting parting

General InformationGeneral Information

• Watershed portion studied includes all or Watershed portion studied includes all or parts of Aitkin, Crow Wing & Cass parts of Aitkin, Crow Wing & Cass countiescounties

• Some communities included in the Some communities included in the Watershed are: Aitkin, Brainerd, Baxter, Watershed are: Aitkin, Brainerd, Baxter, Crosby Crosby

• Pine River is the only major river flowing Pine River is the only major river flowing into Mississippiinto Mississippi

• 3 unnamed streams in the watershed 3 unnamed streams in the watershed areaarea

• Mostly forested land around riverMostly forested land around river

General Info. Contd.General Info. Contd.

• Class “A” water sourceClass “A” water source

• Class A is defined as ORVW-”Outstanding Class A is defined as ORVW-”Outstanding Resource Value Water”Resource Value Water”

• Mississippi River is impaired due to the low Mississippi River is impaired due to the low D.O. levelsD.O. levels

- Possibly from decaying organic material.- Possibly from decaying organic material.

- Studies to begin spring of 2006 (MPCA)- Studies to begin spring of 2006 (MPCA)

Aquatic AnimalsAquatic Animals

• BluegillBluegill• Blunt nose MinnowBlunt nose Minnow• Brook ShinerBrook Shiner• Northern PikeNorthern Pike• Red horse Rock BassRed horse Rock Bass• Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass • Trout-PerchTrout-Perch• WalleyeWalleye• Yellow PerchYellow Perch

Point Sources of PollutionPoint Sources of Pollution

• 3 Major areas of Discharge into River3 Major areas of Discharge into River-Brainerd Waste Water Facility-Brainerd Waste Water Facility-Aitkin Waste Water Facility-Aitkin Waste Water Facility-Wausau Paper Mill-Wausau Paper Mill

• Septic TanksSeptic Tanks

Brainerd Waste Water PlantBrainerd Waste Water Plant

Brainerd Wastewater Lift-Brainerd Wastewater Lift-StationStation

Brainerd Paper millBrainerd Paper mill

Septic Systems / Lakeshore Septic Systems / Lakeshore PropertiesProperties

Non-Point Sources of Non-Point Sources of PollutionPollution

• Surface Water Run OffSurface Water Run Off

• Careless use of waterCareless use of water

Rice Lake ReservoirRice Lake Reservoir(users)(users)

Brainerd WWTP DischargeBrainerd WWTP Discharge

• Average Flow (Daily) 2.4 - 6 MGDAverage Flow (Daily) 2.4 - 6 MGD

• Fecal Coliform 22 ml Fecal Coliform 22 ml

• BOD Average 176 mg/l Influent, BOD Average 176 mg/l Influent, 11 mg/l Effluent 11 mg/l Effluent

• TSS Average 171 mg/l Influent, TSS Average 171 mg/l Influent, 6 mg/l Effluent6 mg/l Effluent

• Phosphorus Influent 6 mg/l, Phosphorus Influent 6 mg/l, Effluent 3 mg/lEffluent 3 mg/l

• Nitrogen 19 mg/l EffluentNitrogen 19 mg/l Effluent

• DO Effluent 2 mg/lDO Effluent 2 mg/l

Aitkin WWTP DischargeAitkin WWTP Discharge

• Chlorine, Total Residual 0.038 mg/L Chlorine, Total Residual 0.038 mg/L Daily Max<0.1Daily Max<0.1

• Dissolved Oxygen 6.56mg/L Dissolved Oxygen 6.56mg/L

• Total Phosphorus (as P) 1.71mg/L Total Phosphorus (as P) 1.71mg/L

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)118 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)118 kg/daykg/day

River Water Quality DataRiver Water Quality DataAitkin, MNAitkin, MN

• Date 8/22/2000Date 8/22/2000– Temperature (°C) 20.10 Temperature (°C) 20.10 – Conductivity (mhos/cm) 230.60 Conductivity (mhos/cm) 230.60 – Field Turbidity (NTU) 4.80 Field Turbidity (NTU) 4.80 – Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 6.95Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 6.95– pH 7.82pH 7.82– Flow (mFlow (m33/sec) /sec) – Nitrogen (mg/L) 0.06Nitrogen (mg/L) 0.06– Total Phosphorus (mg/L) 0.067 Total Phosphorus (mg/L) 0.067 – Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 17 Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 17 – Ammonia (mg/L)< 0.02Ammonia (mg/L)< 0.02

ConclusionConclusion

• Impaired WaterImpaired Water

• Good Water SourceGood Water Source

• Will Remain a great Water Source if Will Remain a great Water Source if taken care oftaken care of

• Minimal points of contaminationMinimal points of contamination

• Strong recreational usesStrong recreational uses– Fishing, swimming, etc.Fishing, swimming, etc.