Laserfiche WebLink
• <br /> I. Introduction <br /> A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION <br /> Lake Orono is a 254 acre lake with a mean depth of approximately 5 feet. Lake Orono is also <br /> identified as Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Protected Water 71-13P. The <br /> lake was created when the Elk River Dam was constructed in 1915. The Elk River Dam is <br /> located approximately 1.1 miles above the confluence of the Elk River with the Mississippi <br /> River, in the City of Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota (Figure 1). Drainage from the <br /> 388,000-acre Elk River watershed flows through Lake Orono, dominating the lakes water quality <br /> (Figure 2). <br /> • <br /> B. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION <br /> The City of Elk River hired Wenck Associates, Inc. in June 1996 to perform a sedimentation <br /> study for Lake Orono. The study is a cooperative effort with Sherburne County and the Lake <br /> Orono Improvement Association. The scope of the project included review of the watershed and <br /> development and implementation of a monitoring plan. Major inflows and the outflow from <br /> Lake Orono were monitored 18 times over a one year period, and sediment and phosphorus loads <br /> were calculated for these. Minor inflows to Lake Orono were monitored during three storm <br /> events. Lake sediment was sampled and chemical and physical analyses performed. Lake Orono <br /> was remapped by the DNR in 1996 and lake volume comparisons were made with a map <br /> prepared by the DNR in 1970. Additional lake and river monitoring was also conducted for fecal <br /> coliform and fecal streptococci contamination. The monitoring, analysis and findings of the <br /> investigation are documented in this report. Recommendations for managing Lake Orono are <br /> also provided. • <br /> N:\0598101 ELKRIVER.RPT-NCW 1 <br />