WATER QUALITY

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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency lists West Arm (includes Harrisons) as impaired for high nutrients. This means high levels of nitrates and phosphorous in the water that lead to potentially harmful algae blooms.  This causes our green water and limits sunlight for native vegetation and can be harmful to the fish and organisms in the bay,

There are two primary sources of these nutrients:

1. External: Nutrients that are flowing into the bay. This includes the water that comes from our yards, the city storm water system and, primarily, from Painters Creek that flows into Jenning Bay.
2. Internal: These are nutrients that sit on the bottom of the bay from decaying vegetation or previous settled sediment and are disrupted by the props on our boats, the carp and potentially any thrusters we use to move the muck around.