In 2022, LeMay and Fitz were removed from Minnesota’s impaired waters list. Eagan has now had three lakes removed from the list (including Fish Lake in 2014), thanks to Department of Public Works restoration efforts.
“It’s wonderful to see this sort of result from the department’s targeted and intentional efforts,” says Jenna Olson, water resources manager. “I joined the City in 2022, and I’m impressed with their progress here.”
Both LeMay and Fitz lakes were added to the impaired waters list in 2014 because they didn’t meet state water quality standards for shallow lakes. Excessive nutrient content was their main problem.
Eagan's Approach to Restoration
At LeMay Lake, the City took early actions to counteract the effects of phosphorous. In 2021 Eagan installed infiltration chambers under the road at a nearby intersection. These chambers store stormwater runoff from the nearby industrial area, so it can soak into the ground. This reduces some of the phosphorus, trash, and other contamination flowing into the lake.
Meanwhile, the City did extensive maintenance and improvements on three stormwater ponds feeding Fitz Lake in 2015. Two years later, the City treated Fitz Lake with alum and installed two sand-filter systems upstream. These remove and filter nutrient pollution before it enters the lake.
“This approach really worked,” Olson says. “These successes are critical, and give us key data to support future projects in Eagan.”
Learn more about our sustainability initiative at cityofeagan.com/green
