What pollutants is Rachel Lake listed for?

EPA's ATTAINS assessment cites Rachel Lake for: NUTRIENTS (grouped as Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)). These are the specific parameters that exceed water-quality standards.

Is there a cleanup plan for Rachel Lake?

Yes. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) — the EPA's pollution-budget cleanup plan — has been developed for Rachel Lake. A TMDL sets the maximum amount of each pollutant the lake can receive and still meet standards, then allocates reductions among sources.

What does "impaired" mean for a lake?

Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states assess whether each waterbody supports its designated uses (aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption, drinking-water supply). A lake that fails the standard for any pollutant is "impaired" and added to the 303(d) list, which obligates the state to eventually write a TMDL cleanup plan. It is a regulatory status, not a measure of overall clarity.

Is Rachel Lake Polluted? EPA Impaired-Waters Status

Yes — Rachel Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is on the EPA's Clean Water Act 303(d) impaired-waters list (2024 assessment cycle). It is cited for Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). A formal cleanup plan — a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) — has been written. "Impaired" is a legal designation, separate from the lake's EPA condition class water-quality readings: it means at least one designated use (such as swimming, aquatic life, or fish consumption) does not meet state standards for the listed pollutant.

EPA 303(d) Listing

On 303(d) impaired list	Listed impaired
Cleanup plan (TMDL)	Completed
Assessment cycle	2024
EPA IR category	4A
Location	Douglas County, Minnesota

Pollutants Cited

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen) — Excess phosphorus and nitrogen fuel algae growth and summer blooms. This is the classic agricultural-runoff and shoreline-development impairment, and the one most likely to affect swimming via blue-green algae.

Specific parameters in the EPA record: NUTRIENTS.

What this means for using Rachel Lake

Because Rachel Lake is listed for Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), swimming can be affected — check for posted beach advisories, especially after heavy rain or during visible algae. An impairment listing does not mean the lake is closed — most impaired lakes remain open for boating and swimming. It means a specific pollutant exceeds a standard for a specific use. Rachel Lake carries an overall water-quality readings of —, with algae (chlorophyll-a) at 3.9 µg/L and phosphorus at 22.5 µg/L — see the full breakdown on the lake report. The official EPA assessment is available in the ATTAINS waterbody report.

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