Maxwell Bay (DNR ID: 27-0133-11)
Sampling Location - GPS Coordinates: Surface Area: 300 acres Max. Depth: 44 ft
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Maxwell Bay is located near the city of Orono. 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 and then turn right at Tonkawa Rd to enter the public boat access area.
Maxwell Bay is on Lake Minnetonka which is a class 2B lake protected for aquatic life and recreation. Water quality information is available beginning in 1997. MCWD staff have been monitoring the site on Maxwell Bay 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) | 1.3 - 2.2 | 1.8 | 52 | C |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 25 - 172 | 41.7 | 58 | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 7 - 17 | 12.5 | 55 | B |
| Overall Score | 55 | C+ |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.31 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth increased from 1.8 m to 3.2 m by late May. The rest of the season
Secchi disk depth decreased ranging between 1.3 m and 2.2 m (standard > 1.4 m). - Chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased from 9 μg/L to 3 μg/L in the beginning of the
season. From late May to early October, there was a gradual increase in chlorophyll-a
concentrations which ranged from 6 μg/L to 17 μg/L (standard < 14 μg/L). - Surface TP concentrations ranged between 23 μg/L and 31 μg/L, except in early
September when concentrations increased to 172 μg/L, which is about 4 times the
standard limit (standard < 40 μg/L). Surface SRP concentrations were below detection
limit (< 0.005 μg/L) for the entire season. - Both bottom TP and SRP concentrations increased from late April to early September,
when the highest TP concentration occurred (TP = 560 μg/L). The highest concentration
of SRP occurred in late September (SRP = 499 μg/L). In early October, 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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