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.
Currently not available.
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. Water samples were collected at one meter below the water surface and one meter from the bottom. Surface and bottom sample parameters analyzed included total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nitrate/nitrite (NO3/NO2) and ammonia (NH4). Surface concentrations of chlorophyll-a were also analyzed and measurements of Secchi disc depth were recorded.
| 2008 Summer Water Quality Summary |
| Parameters | Range | Mean | TSI Value | Lake Grade |
| Months | June - Sept. | May - Sept. | ||
| Secchi Depth (m) | 1.4 - 2.6 | 2.1 | 49 | B |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 23 - 46 | 31.2 | 54 | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 5 - 21 | 13.4 | 56 | B |
| Overall Score | 53 | B |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.31 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth increased from 2.1 m to 4.6 m by late May. The rest of the season secchi disk depth decreased ranging between 2.9 m and 1.4 m (standard > 1.2 m).
- Chlorophyll-a concentrations decreased from 28µg/L to 1 µg/L in the beginning of the season. From June to October, there was a general increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations that by the end of the season concentrations were about 2 times greater than the standard (< 15 µg/L).
- Surface TP concentrations ranged between 23 µg/L and 46 µg/L throughout the season. In early May, late August and late October concentrations increased beyond the standard limit (< 40 µg/L). Surface SRP concentrations were below detection limit (< 0.005 µg/L) except in late April, late May and late October.
- Both bottom TP and SRP concentrations increased from late April to September; however, SPR concentrations in September declined from 254 µg/L to 36 µg/L then increased again at the end of the month. In late October, both TP and SRP concentrations decreased.
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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