Forest Lake (DNR ID: 27-0139-00)
Sampling Location - GPS Coordinates: Surface Area: 84 acres Max. Depth: 42 ft
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Forest Lake is located near the cities of Mound and Spring Park. Head east on Minnetonka Blvd, and turn left on Co Rd 101 S. Turn right at Grays Bay Blvd and continue on Bushaway Rd. Turn left on Eastman Ln/Shady Ln, then a slight right at E Circle Dr. Next take a slight left at Lake St. E. Turn left at Ferndale Rd S and continue on Shoreline Dr. Turn right at Northshore Dr. Public lake access is available at the North Arm boat access located off of Northshore Drive two miles west from Shoreline Drive at Smiths Bay.
Forest Lake has been connected to Lake Minnetonka by channel and is a class 2B lake protected for aquatic life and recreation. Water quality information is available beginning in 1996. MCWD staff have been monitoring the site on Forest Lake on a bi-weekly basis from the time of ice out (April) to the time of fall mixing (mid-October) since 2006.
See Previous Reports.
Monitoring season started in late April and ended in late October. A YSI multi-probe sonde was used to measure dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature (oC), pH, and specific conductivity (µS/cm) at each meter depth from the water surface to the bottom. Additionally, water samples were collected within the first two meters of the surface with a 2-meter composite sampling tube. Samples one meter above the bottom were collected with a Van Doran water sampler. Surface sample were analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total nitrogen (TN), where the bottom samples were analyzed for TP and SRP. Surface concentrations of chlorophyll-a were also analyzed and measurements of Secchi disc depth were recorded.
| 2009 Summer Water Quality Summary |
| Parameters | Range | Mean | TSI Value | Lake Grade |
| Months | June - Sept. | May - Sept. | ||
| Secchi Depth (m) | 0.3 - 1.2 | 0.7 | 65 | D |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 51 - 64 | 58.0 | 63 | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 27 - 120 | 59.7 | 71 | D |
| Overall Score | 66 | D |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.13 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth was not recorded in late August. Secchi disk depth increased from 0.8
m to 2.2 m by late May. From early June to early August, secchi disk depth decreased
from 1.2 m to 0.3 m, then increased to 2.7 m by end of the season (standard > 1.4 m). - Chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased from 63 μg/L to 10 μg/L by early May. From late
May to late August, concentration increased from 14 μg/L to 120 μg/L, then gradually
declined to 2 μg/L by early October (standard < 14 μg/L). - Surface TP concentrations were five times the standard limit (< 40 μg/L) in late April,
then gradually decreased to 53 μg/L by the middle of July. TP concentrations ranged
between 58 μg/L and 64 μg/L the remainder of the season until October when
concentrations increased to 140 μg/L. Surface SRP concentrations were below detection
limit (< 0.005 μg/L) except from late April, late May, early September and early
October. - Both bottom TP and SRP concentrations gradually increased throughout the season
except in late September when both TP and SRP concentrations declined.
Lake Grades and Historical Monitoring Summaries
When available, previous reports are linked to applicable year. Additional lake data previous to 2007 may be available in the applicable year's hydrodata report. If you have additional questions or you are looking for specific information please contact MCWD's Water Quality Staff.
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