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Special Monitoring Projects and Studies

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment staff conduct special monitoring projects in support of water quality goals, occasionally in cooperation with other interested agencies. Monitoring is also conducted in response to accidental wastewater spills or discharges that may affect surface waters in the TCMA.

Below are reports available for viewing in PDF format. To obtain the free software needed to view these documents, link here to the Adobe Acrobat Reader site.

St. Olaf Mathematics Practicum

On January 26, 2006 a group of St. Olaf College students presented their findings entitled, "Estimating Nonpoint Source Pollutant Loads and Measuring Uncertainty." Their study was part of the St. Olaf College Mathematics Practicum, an intensive one-month course that enables small groups of students, with the support of professors, to examine mathematical and statistical questions that are of direct relevance to business, industry, and government. The group of six students examined MCES stream data and statistically evaluated our approach for estimating annual nonpoint source pollutant loads. They also evaluated the level of uncertainty in pollutant loads calculated using different models. To view their findings check the following links.

• St. Olaf Mathematics Practicum results
• St. Olaf Powerpoint presentation (PDF)

Lower Minnesota River Model

Currently EMA Water Quality staff are involved in a large multi-agency water quality monitoring effort as part of the Lower Minnesota River Model project coordinated by Cathy Larson of the MCES Water Resources Assessment group. Please visit the LMRM web site for additional information. http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment/Water/LMRM/

Lake Pepin Phosphorus Study

From 1994-1998, the effects of phosphorus loads in the water quality of the Upper Mississippi River, from Lock and Dam No. 1 through Lake Pepin were studied. MCES led this intensive, multi-agency study to better understand the sources, impacts and history of phosphorus loading in this reach of the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. Check the following links for more information about the Lake Pepin phosphorus study.

• Lake Pepin Phosphorus Study Powerpoint presentation
• "Lake Pepin Phosphorus Study, 1994-1998: Effects of Phosphorus Loads on the Upper Mississippi River" (Abstract)
• "Lake Pepin Phosphorus Study, 1994-1998: Effects of Phosphorus Loads on the Upper Mississippi River" (Full Report)
• "Historical Changes in Sediment and Phosphorus Loadings to the Upper Mississippi River" (Abstract)
• "Historical Trends Affecting Accumulation of Sediment and Phosphorus in Lake Pepin" (Abstract)
• "Sources of Phosphorus, Chlorophyll, and Sediment to the Mississippi River Upstream of Lake Pepin: 1976-1996" (Abstract)
• "Synthesis of Phosphorus/Seston Fluxes and Phytoplankton Dynamics in Lake Pepin, 1994-1996" (Abstract)
• "Volunteer WQ Monitoring of Lake Pepin and Spring Lake" (Abstract)
• "Advanced Eutrophication Model of the Upper Mississippi River" (Abstract)