Lakes – Phosphorus Sensitive

This data layer indicates lakes that have a phosphorus sensitivity. It was developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Lakes that have a phosphorus sensitivity are especially vulnerable to biologically-driven water clarity reductions when subjected to increased phosphorus levels. Water clarity is considered a key water quality indicator because it affects many other physical and biological processes that occur within a lake. Decreases in water clarity are generally considered to be undesirable and managers try to avoid them. Predictive modeling was used to assess the phosphorus sensitivity in lakes of interest.