St. Albans Bay (DNR ID: 27-0133-04)
Sampling Location GPS Coordinates: Surface Area: 164 acres Max. Depth: 44 ft
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St. Albans Bay is located near the cities of Excelsior and Greenwood on Lake Minnetonka. Head west on Minnetonka Blvd toward Maplewood Rd, and turn left to stay on Minnetonka Blvd. Next turn right to stay on Minnetonka Blvd. Public boat launch is on the right.
St. Albans 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 St. Albans 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) | 2.7 - 4.4 | 3.3 | 43 | A |
| Surface TP (µg/L) | 13 - 20 | 15.8 | 44 | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (µg/L) | 2 - 5 | 3.3 | 42 | A |
| Overall Score | 43 | A |
The following summary refers to Figure 3.41 (a-d).
- Secchi disk depth gradually increased from 3.5 m to 4.4 m from late April to early June (standard > 1.4 m). The rest of the season, Secchi disk depth decreased ranging between 2.7 m and 3.6 m.
- Chlorophyll-a concentrations were below the standard limit for the entire season (< 14 μg/L). Chlorophyll-a concentrations increased to 8 μg/L by late May, and then remained between 2 μg/L and 5 μg/L until October. By the end of the season, chlorophyll-a concentrations had rose to 8 μg/L.
- Surface TP concentrations were below the standard limit for the season (< 40 μg/L) and fluctuated between 13 μg/L and 20 μg/L until the end of the season. In early October, TP concentrations increased to 29 μg/L. Surface SRP concentrations were below detection limit (< 0.005 μg/L) for the entire season.
- In general, bottom TP and SRP concentrations increased over the season with TP concentrations peaking in late August. Bottom SRP concentrations increased in late August, but SRP concentrations were greater (163 μg/L) in early October than late
August (158 μg/L).
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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