Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Delists Lake Zumbro from State’s Impaired Water List

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- For the first time in more than 20 years, Lake Zumbro is not a part of the state’s Impaired Waters List. 

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The reservoir along the Zumbro River in northern Olmsted County and southern Wabasha County was listed as impaired in 2002 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

It received the designation for having high nutrients that produced algae. 

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Improvements Lead to Lake Zumbro Being Delisted from State's Impaired Waters List

The MPCA credited the improved water quality to dredging work, improvements to local farming practices, shoreline protection and streambank stabilization along with the adoption of site-specific standards at the lake. 

“They directly attributed this continued improvement to Olmsted County’s highly regarded Soil Health Initiative; the benefits of the dredging project; very active lake associations and, believe it or not, zebra mussels,” Olmsted County Commissioner Mark Thein said. 

Dredging, Establishment of Improvement District Credited for Lake Zumbro Turnaround

Crews have dredged more than 400,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lake within the past 10 years. 

On Tuesday, the Olmsted County Board voted 6-0 to provide $100,000 in financial assistance to fund dredging in key areas of the lake next year and in 2028. 

About 10 years ago, the Olmsted and Wabasha county boards approved the establishment of a Lake Zumbro Improvement District. 

The district has the ability to levy special assessment on lakeside property owners to fund improvement projects.