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Mr. Karl P. Keel, P.E. <br />Page 2 <br />achievable for shallow urban lakes with multiple uses, including storm water management. As such, for <br />those specific lakes, at the beginning of the TMDL process, there will be a goal setting process <br />immediately after data assessment. If primary contact is not a reasonable goal, then the goal of secondary <br />contact will be established. Important considerations will include current uses as defined by the local <br />water plan and lake users, lake morphometry (depth, area, and volume), watershed area, and existing <br />local planning goals. <br />To further assist in helping set local site-specific goals, the agency is committing to developing a <br />Guidance Manual that will be aimed at providing a regional perspective, with a special emphasis on <br />urban shallow lakes. It will assess the voluminous amount of lake restoration data the watershed districts <br />and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have collected, emphasizing what has worked and <br />why. This manual will be created in consultation with as many Watershed Management Organizations <br />and cities as possible and with a substantial amount of public participation. We believe realistic goals <br />will be achievable and accepted.. <br />As to your second issue, we are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use all <br />available data. Perhaps understanding we are allowed a lot of flexibility in scheduling when the TMDLs <br />begin could lessen some of your concerns. Also, be using a more regional approach, we can include <br />smaller lakes with larger ones and gain some efficiencies of scale. <br />As to your last point questioning why some obviously impaired lakes are not on the draft list, usually the <br />reason is there was not sufficient data available to use to make that decision. <br />Again, thank you for your letter. If you have any questions, please contact Howard Markus, the TMDL <br />coordinator, at (651) 296-7295. Please be aware that we are in the process of dealing with several other <br />issues that were raised during the public comment period. We will not be sending the TMDL list to EPA <br />for approval until those issues are resolved. Your letter and this response will be included in the 2000 <br />TMDL package that is sent to EPA for their review and approval. When our package is forwarded to <br />EPA, we will revise the TMDL web site, so please continue to go to it for updates. <br />Sincerely, <br />Marvin E. Hora <br />Manager <br />Environmental Research and Reporting <br />Environmental Outcomes Division <br />MEH:jrh <br />